And they are both men I knew and worked with. I knew Father Gradwell when he joined my seminary during my last months there as a permanent deacon preparing for the priesthood, following the death of his wife Susan. As for the Reverend Stephen Doona, he was our active deacon at the Cathedral when I worked there, many years ago, going in retirement for ill health not long before I left the Cathedral for my placement in Leicester. I did not know Mrs. Gradwell at all, but Mr. and Mrs. Doona I shall never forget.
Father Kevin Gradwell went to the Lord on the 1st day of July. Born on the 29th day of August 1950, he at first studied for the priesthood, before meeting Susan and settling down with her at Marple Bridge S. Mary. Following a career in the civil police, he was called to support students of the seminary at the English College in Valladolid, in Spain. I remember his stories of his regular ferrying with his van of cargo for students from England to Valladolid in the summers – a grave act of generosity, I always thought. Having retired, he was soon ordained a deacon in March, 2010. When Susan passed away, he applied to the priesthood and joined us at the seminary of the archbishop of Westminster, at Allen Hall, in Chelsea. He was ordained not long before myself at the Cathedral and spent his priestly ministry in the High Peak, working along with the ailing Father John Cairns at Chapel-en-le-Frith, while assisting at Marple Bridge and New Mills. He generously agreed to serve as parish priest at Grantham S. Mary Immaculate at the end of 2020, but was forced within a few months to retire to Marple Bridge for ill health. I shall always remember his big smile, even when he was in great pain and discomfort. May he rest now in the peace of Christ. His body will be received at Marple Bridge S. Mary on the 27th of July at 18.00, and the Mass in requiem will be offered by the Bishop on Friday the 28th of July at 11.30.
The Reverend Stephen Doona also went to the Lord on the 1st day of July. He married Liz at Calverton S. Anthony and they settled down at Syston Divine Infant of Prague, working in catering. Stephen began to work at Emmanuel House in Nottingham in the 90s and, with Liz and their son, began to attend the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, while they lived at Eastwood OL of Good Counsel. Stephen was soon drawn to the permanent diaconate and ordained by the Bishop at the Cathedral in February, 2006. Stephen has worked as a deacon in both Eastwood and at the Cathedral, where he also had a ministry to those in bereavement, as I well remember. He was forced to retire from this work for ill health, roundabout 2017. May he rest now in the peace of Christ.
Catholic Louth and Mablethorpe 