Catholics mourn the loss of a 'great leader' (From Stroud News and Journal)

Catholics mourn the loss of a 'great leader'

CATHOLICS throughout the Five Valleys paid tribute to a much-loved spiritual leader this week after the sad news of the death of Pope John Paul II.

Church leaders, public figures and worshippers expressed their sorrow as local churches echoed events in Rome with their own services of remembrance and celebration.

Sister Mary Quentin, head of the Dominican sisters at Beeches Green in Stroud and the former head of St Rose's special school, said: "We are all very sad about it - the world has lost a great spiritual leader.

"But we are relieved that his suffering is over. He showed us how to live and he showed us how to die.

"His main strength was his passionate belief in Jesus Christ and his longing to spread the love of Jesus Christ to everybody.

"He was not afraid to say what he thought and stand out, often against the flow of modern life."

Sister Quentin has met the Pope several times and twice taken St Rose's pupils to Rome, most recently in November last year. She remembered how warmly he responded to the children.

"He blessed them all and spoke to them all," she said. "He was wonderful with them."

A special service was held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beeches Green last night and there were similar services around the district.

Rodborough resident Manuela Perteghella, 31, was in Rome in the days leading up to the Pope's death. She described the mood in the eternal city.

"Lots of pilgrims started going to St Peter's Square but it was very subdued," she said.

"When his condition deteriorated the square was full of people. Some were crying but most were praying and keeping a vigil.

"There were people of every religion there. I saw a Muslim woman from Palestine praying for him. And there were so many young people there, which was amazing.

"It was a momentous feeling. There was a sense of history in the making."

Stroud MP David Drew gave his own tribute to the Pontiff.

"He unified the world in difficult times and I think the outpouring of grief, emotion and respect is indicative of what people felt about him.

"He conducted himself with ultimate dignity towards the end of his life.

"I have been really impressed with the way the whole world, Christians, those of other faiths and even non-religious people have come together with a real understanding of what the man achieved."

Among the services to honour John Paul II is a morning prayer for the dead at St Joseph's Church in Stonehouse on Thursday, April 7 at 9.45am, followed by a requiem mass at 10am.