Part of funeral address for Paralympian and Irish priest Fr Leo Close, given by priest Fr Michael Cashman.
Intro by Father Michael, on the life of Father Leo and his sufferings and the way in which he met them.
1953 they met as students for the priesthood in Ireland. ‘At a height of 6ft 3, cheerful and happy person and top-class athlete’
1956 travelling through France on the way to Lourdes, an accident caused him to be paralysed from the waist down.
He states that Father Leo reflects the mind of St Paul ‘I think my coming may not be without influence among you’.
Thanks Father Leo’s family for the sacrifice they made in giving their son and brother to ‘our’ diocese in Dunedin.
He describes FLC as a student in Ireland, with energy and enthusiasm from New Zealand, he sought out other paraplegics, who had given up hope and brought them into society.
In 1964, he arrived in Dunedin highly educated, to answer the challenges by the second Vatican Council.
Father Michael describes his character, his sporting achievements in the Paralympics in Ireland and in Dunedin. He says Father Leo brought hope and new life to many paraplegics in New Zealand.
[Fluctuation of sound levels throughout recording from original material]