Sad news of the death of Monsignor Hendry

St Mary Magdalene’s, Perth

30th April 2020

Dear parishioners of St Mary Magdalene’s, Perth

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the sad news of the death of Monsignor Charles Hendry. Many words will be used in the coming days to describe his ministry amongst you. The memories we treasure, of a parish priest and pastor and teacher, of a friend and colleague and mentor, will form I am sure, a tribute to someone who gave so much to so many.

Everything Monsignor did as a priest – every Holy Mass celebrated, every sermon preached, every baby baptised, every couple married, every sick person anointed, every lonely person visited, every child affirmed and taught, every parishioner supported and upheld, every hospital ward attended, every deathbed sat beside, every soul commended to God, every mourning family comforted – every one of these things is nothing other than the love of God lived out in our world and in our lives, lived out in the ministry of the church which is the body of Christ, and through the Sacred order of the priesthood to which Monsignor Hendry was called sixty-five years ago.

As we celebrate God’s love in the life of our departed brother, we are marking the end of a life. But we are also celebrating the end of a life, not end in the sense of termination, but end in the sense of purpose or goal. Monsignor’s life was directed by, and directed towards, the love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Easter faith which he proclaimed sustains and assures us that if there is an end of things, it is only the end, the goal, of the love which will not be contained and bursts the realms of emptiness and death.

I commend his grieving family and his sweet soul to your prayers.

Canon Mulholland

Prayers for our parish priest

Prayers are being requested and heard around the diocese for our parish priest, Mgr Hendry who is now in hospital.

ST MARY’S, LOCHEE – I would ask you to remember Mgr Charles Hendry in your prayers for the sick. Mgr Hendry is in PRI, comfortable but sleeping, most of the time. Fr Mark Cassidy

ST MARY’S, FOREBANK – Please keep in your prayers Mgr. Charles Hendry who is currently in Perth Royal Infirmary. The bishop sent word this evening that Mgr. Charlie’s condition has deteriorated today and our prayers are asked as he enters his final days. – Fr Michael Carrie (22nd April 2020)

ST BRIDE’S, MONIFIETH – The news has gone round our Diocese of how seriously ill Mgr Charlie Hendry is, in PRI. He is a good and faithful priest who served long and hard in the Lord’s vineyard. May God comfort and console him in his illness. May God embrace his family in His love and tenderness. Mgr Aldo Angelosanto

ST JAMES’, KINROSS – Dear parishioners, I have heard from the bishop that Mgr. Charles Hendry’s health has deteriorated quite quickly in his time in hospital and we are now asking very much for your prayers for him and his family at this time. God bless you and thank you for keeping this dear priest of our diocese in prayer in his ill health. Fr Martin Pletts

ST JOHN’S RC ACADEMY, PERTH – Staff and pupils are joined with Bishop Stephen Robson and communities across the diocese with prayers for Mgr Hendry, our school’s most senior chaplain (by age). He is now in PRI and his condition is poor. David O’Brien