How Great Thou art. On the day God brought my fifth grandchild into the world - tiny Calum Lynch at 7lb 5oz — I got news of the death of my great friend Father Desmond Quigley.

God gives us the chance to live in the world He created and to join him in his everlasting world in Heaven. I have no doubts that that is where Desmond is now. Calum has been given the same chance. Despite a long struggle with cancer, Desmond fulfilled all of God’s wishes right to the end. He loved Him to the full through Mary. And that takes me back to May, 1967, when Desmond was among the first group of boys to make the Covenant of Love with the Queen of Schoenstatt.
The others were Michael Hawthorn, Brian Geary, John Devine and myself.
Mary used Sister Xavera Deininger as the instrument in their life’s struggle, and she has never stopped praying for “her boys”.

At the age of 36, Desmond ventured to France, where he learned the language, and worked in various fields before being called by God into the priesthood. Nobody was more proud than Sister.
A group from his former parish in East Kilbride made their way to Perpignan for the ordination. Desmond was radiant that day, and I was happy to see my friend at peace with himself.
Having served in a local parish, he quickly became popular, particularly with the downtrodden, who were his “favourite parishioners”. On Desmond’s few returns to Scotland, his first port of call was to Campsie Glen and to the Shrine to thank Mary for his life. He understood so well the struggles that Father Kentenich had undergone, not knowing that he, too, would soon be called upon to show his love in the face of adversity.

It is an irony that on one occasion at Ardmory, Sister’s “boys” re-enacted Father Kentenich’s 20th January ordeal.
Should he go to Dachau, or take the easy way out and declare himself unfit? What was God calling him to do?
Desmond played the role of the “narrator”, telling the story of Father Kentenich’s turmoil in making the correct decision.
Going to Dachau was the right decision for Father Kentenich, for it was part of God’s wider plan for him and the Schoenstatt family. And Desmond, too, made the right decisions in his life, guided by God all the way.

Also taking part was John Devine, another example of a person who accepted God’s plan. On May 29 1987, he too died of cancer. Looking back to that Sunday when the “boys” made their covenant in Ardmory it is written:
“Give us the strength as you gave to our brother Joseph Engling, who found warmth and comfort in his hour of need.” Desmond found that comfort.
I spoke to him by phone on the eve of his death and, although he was struggling to talk, he attempted, in is usual cheery way, to communicate with me.
I will miss my calls to France. I will miss Desmond.

Matt Lynch

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