The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has shared an update on how people can pay their respects to Father Dermott Donnelly this Friday.
Tributes flooded in for Dec’s brother, who served with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, after he sadly died aged 55 following a serious illness. Shortly before his death Fr Dermott celebrated his 30th anniversary of service to his parish and community, where he was best known for his work with young people and youth ministry.
The Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 12:05pm on Friday 29 July at St Mary’s Cathedral. Ahead of the service, the church has issued a reminder to those wishing to pay their respects.
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Father Dermott’s family have requested that rather than attending the service at the Cathedral itself, that people instead use the alternative spaces both in-person and virtually that have been provided by the church. The funeral will be live streamed online, as well as at St Michael’s Church in Elswick .
An earlier statement from the family said: “Due to limited space in the Cathedral, we would encourage those who wish to participate in the Requiem Mass on Friday 29 July to gather at St Michael’s Church, Westmorland Road, where the Mass will be live-streamed and Holy Communion will be made available. Following the Requiem Mass, Fr Dermott’s cortège will pass St Michael’s for those who wish to pay their respects.”
The Mass will be live streamed on the St Mary’s Cathedral website , and they have also provided a direct link to the YouTube page where well-wishers will be able to watch the service. You can find it here .
Fr Dermott was raised on Newcastle's Cruddas Park estate as one of seven children, brothers - Declan, Martin and Eamonn - and three sisters - Camelia, Patricia and Moira. Following the sad news of his death, tributes to Fr Dermott have poured in from churches across the North East and those who knew him well for his work in the community.
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