John was my Mass partner, my ‘Man’, who came to collect me to take me to many a Midnight Mass, Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil. Our friendship survived us both forgetting our glasses and having to share a hymn book - John longsighted and me shortsighted!  Me making us late because I’d forgotten where I’d put my handbag at the last minute!  And him telling me we’d be lucky to find a parking space now!  We always did. We rewarded him with beer, Hot Cross buns or mince pies as the season dictated. 

The funniest situation though was in Florida in 1999 when on our second Sunday Andrew didn’t come to Mass and dropped us three off - we sat next to the Moynihan family and after Mass a local congratulated John on his large family!  Trish and I never worked out which one if us was the wife/daughter!  

John even survived me bringing a certain cheeky grandson to church every week, who only ever wanted to sit with ‘Uncle John’, so much so that most of the congregation thought he was his grandson!

John, you may not be with us in person in the prew (2nd/3rd on the right) but you will be with us at every Mass, celebrating the heavenly banquet, where all are joined again in worship and praise of God. Rest in peace my friend.