Monsignor David Forde RIP
The Bishop was very much saddened to hear of the death, on Friday afternoon, of Monsignor David Forde.
Monsignor David would have celebrated his 95th birthday in ten days’ time, having been born on 4th September 1930.
He studied at Mount Melleray Seminary, and then at All Hallows Seminary, Dublin, before being ordained there on 17th June 1956.
His first appointment in our Diocese was as Assistant Priest in Saint Peter’s Parish, Leicester, until 1963, when he was moved to become Parish Priest of Divine Infant of Prague Parish, Syston.
Nine years later, in 1972, he was asked to become Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lincoln, Lincoln, an office he held for 20 years, and during much of which time he was Dean of Lincoln Deanery also.
At the request of Bishop McGuinness, then-Canon David undertook the refurbishment of St Barnabas Cathedral in 1993, as Cathedral Administrator between 1992 until 1999, before becoming Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Bulwell, and later also Infant of Prague, Bestwood, as well as Dean of Nottingham West Deanery. He transferred in 2007, his final year of ministry, to become Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish, Hucknall, from where he retired in 2008.
We now commend Monsignor David to the Lord, giving thanks for his long life and zealous ministry, and praying for his eternal reward, the Lord’s good and faithful priest.
Eternal rest grant un to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he Rest In Peace. Amen.
