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Archbishop Maurice Couve De Murville
A longtime friend of the American College, Archbishop Maurice Couve de
Murville died on November 3rd 2007. Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham,
he died peacefully at St Joseph's Nursing Home, Littlehampton, at the
age of 78. He was the seventh Archbishop of Birmingham from March 1982
until June 1999, when he resigned on the grounds of ill-health. In
retirement Archbishop Maurice lived in Horsham, West Sussex. He had
presided at Mass in St Chad's Cathedral for the last time on 26 March
2007 on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination.
One of Archbishop Maurice's first major engagements as Archbishop of
Birmingham was to welcome Pope John Paul II to Coventry Airport on
Pentecost Sunday 30 May 1982, the third day of the Pope's Pastoral Visit
to Great Britain.
Throughout his 17 years as Archbishop of Birmingham, Archbishop Maurice
worked tirelessly as chief leader in the life of the Diocese. In doing
so he made full use of the Cathedral Canons and the Deans, together with
the Council of Clergy. He established important historical commissions
and built on those he inherited. His ecumenical relations were firmly
based on friendship and on the recognition of mutual need. He enjoyed
being with people, especially on his visits to parishes.
Archbishop Maurice will be particularly remembered for his work in
helping to establish the Maryvale Institute, situated on the outskirts
of Birmingham, as an international Catholic College for Theology,
Religious Education and Catechesis.
The promotion of vocations to the priesthood, and the formation of
future priests were always to the forefront of his mind. Archbishop
Maurice took a keen interest in the restoration of the fabric of St
Mary's College, Oscott, the diocesan seminary, situated on the outskirts
of Birmingham and supported the rectors and procurators in improving the
amenities, mundane as well as aesthetic. Academically, he fostered the
affiliation between Oscott and the Catholic University of Louvain and
helped to establish close links with Birmingham University.
The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, said of
Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville: "The Archdiocese of Birmingham
will be at prayer for their late Archbishop Maurice. He was much loved
by so many who admired his achievements and his humor. He always gave me
his full support, for which I am grateful. Characteristically he bore
his last illness with dignity and calm, with his strong faith and trust
in the Lord so much to the fore. May the Lord welcome this faithful
servant with love and mercy. May he rest in peace."
Reverend Daniel John Butler Jr
Reverend Daniel John Butler Jr. the well-loved and respected pastor of
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Niceville, Florida, died of
complications related to diabetes and congestive heart failure in his
rectory home on December 5, 2007. He had served as pastor of Holy Name
of Jesus parish for the past 17 years and had been a priest for 41
years.
Father Butler was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 24, 1940, the only
child of Daniel John and Evelyn Kieffer Butler. Before coming to the
American College of Louvain, Dan attended St. John Seminary in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Throughout most of his life, he had precarious health, a
precocious mind and a child-like spirit. He was greatly loved by his
parishioners.
Father Butler was ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine in Louvain,
Belgium on June 25, 1966 by Most Reverend Victor J. Reed, then-bishop of
the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. He served as assistant pastor of
several Catholic parishes in the Diocese of St. Augustine before the
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was established in 1975. His first
assignment in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was at St. Paul
Catholic Church. During that time, he also served in the guidance
department at Pensacola Catholic High School. He served as vicar for
deacons in 1985 and was elected on three occasions to the Council of
Priests and two occasions to the College of Consulters. He was a member
of the Commission for Orders and Ministries, served on the Commission
for Catholic Schools, and on the board of directors for the Diocesan
Pension Plan and the Diocesan Building Commission. Father Butler also
served as the spiritual moderator for the Diocesan Council of Catholic
Women — West Central Deanery since 1990.
His body was received at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church,
Niceville, on Tuesday, December 11th with a vigil prayer service at 7
p.m. The funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, December 12th at
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ,
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, was the principal celebrant at both the
vigil service and the funeral Mass. Homilist was Fr. Eugene Pathe. A
number of priests from the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
concelebrated at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial was at Holy Cross
Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.
Although his health was poor at the time, Dan was able to participate in
the Sesquicentennial American College Alumni Reunion at the American
College in June 2007.
Reverend Gregory P. Sykes
Fr. Gregory P. Sykes, 62, died November 16, 2007 in his home in
Wheatfield, New York. He was a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. He
was a graduate of Wadams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg , New York and an
alumnus of the American College of Louvain. He was ordained on September
3rd, 1977.
In 1980 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a chaplain for the
next twenty-six years. His military chaplain assignments included: the
Pentagon, West Point, SHAPE Belgium, Walter Reed Army Hospital and Fort
Leavenworth. He had very close contact with the students and staff of
the American College while he was chaplain at SHAPE and was greatly
liked and respected.
After his retirement in 2004, Father Sykes moved to Wheatfield and
served as week end associate pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish.
Bishop Robert J. Cunningham of Ogdensburg celebrated the funeral mass on
November 20, 2007.
Professor Edouard Massaux
Professor Edouard Massaux, Rector of the Université Catholique de
Louvain from 1969 to 1986 died on January 25, 2008. Professor of New
Testament in Louvain from 1953 to 1969, he was greatly troubled by the
split-up of the university into the K.U.Leuven and the U.C.L. and
described the U.C.L. as “’the University of Louvain in exile.” As
professor of New Testament exegesis he was a disciple of L. Cerfaux and
greatly admired by his students from the American College.
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