As I begin my ministry here in Carfin, I feel it not just appropriate but ‘right and just’ to express my gratitude to Fr Francis McGachey for everything he has done here in St Francis Xavier’s during his time as your Parish Priest. As you all know he has worked tirelessly for the parish and the grotto and such selfless activity seems to have taken its toil on his health. Fr Francis is a perfectionist and I know from first hand the effort he put into ensuring that the liturgies both in the parish and the grotto were prayerful and uplifting. One cannot walk around the grounds of the grotto and not marvel at the various improvements he has made in recent years. This parish and the Diocese of Motherwell are greatly in his debt. Let us continue to hold him in prayer and ask Our Lord and His Blessed Mother to watch over him, comfort and console him and in God’s good time, restore him to full health and return him to full time ministry within the Diocese.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for him.
St Therese of Lisieux, Little Flower of Jesus intercede for him.