MICHAEL McLAUGHLIN Father Frank Meagher suffered for many years from aches in his legs and hips. They caused him great pain, which, to an extent, at times prevented him from exercising a more robust ministry.

MICHAEL McLAUGHLIN

Father Frank Meagher suffered for many years from aches in his legs and hips. They caused him great pain, which, to an extent, at times prevented him from exercising a more robust ministry.

Yet, his infirmity allowed him a deeper insight into the lives of the parishioners in his care who also suffered or were housebound. He was a great consolation to the sick and spent many hours by the bedsides of those in need.

Frank was an ordinary Glaswegian, who worked in the shipyards before following his vocation. Since he had left school with few qualifications, he was sent to Campion House in Osterley, to "brush up" and learn Latin. This house of study and formation was run by Jesuits and was aimed at men who lacked the entrance qualifications for the major seminaries. Much to his amusement, it was not the Latin but the English language that hindered Frank in his studies. He burned the midnight oil on more than one occasion, remarking that he was like the apostles who worked all night and caught nothing. Frank had a great ability to laugh at himself. He then attended St Peter's College, Cardross, where he successfully completed his six-year course in philosophy and theology and was ordained in Glasgow in June, 1960. He was in the same class as Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell.

Frank enjoyed appointments in parishes all over Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

He was a curate at St Patrick's, Dumbarton, St Teresa's, Possilpark, St Ninian's, Knightswood, Holy Cross, Crosshill, and St Eunan's, Clydebank, before becoming a parish priest in the Gorbals and Cumbernauld.

In his free time, Frank enjoyed golfing and spent his holidays touring with his sister, Molly, and her husband. He was a devoted uncle to his nephews and nieces and enjoyed many a convivial gathering.

After retiring from active ministry, he lived in Nithsdale Road, on the south side of the city, still managing to help in various parishes until his final recent illness. Frank's generosity and cheerfulness will be missed by many of the people of Glasgow.