Interment of Fr John's Ashes

The Rosminian Cemetery, Ratcliffe College, LE7 4SG

Tuesday 22nd April, 2025 at 10.30 am

(Google Map directions - Ratcliffe Campus Map)

Dear friends, former parishioners and colleagues of Fr John.

Most will know that Fr John had verbally requested that his ashes be buried in the Memorial Garden he set up behind the Watermead Centre at St Joseph's, alongside the parishioners he had served and the apostolate he had founded. However, he did not give further instruction as to where his ashes should be buried should this wish not be possible. His sister has now decided that he best be buried at Ratcliffe College with other members of his religious Order, the Rosminians, with whom he began his vocation to serve the Church as priest.

Fr Philip Sainter, rector of Ratcliffe College, is taking the ceremony to bury Fr John's ashes, in their cemetery alongside former Rosminian priests, brothers, religious sisters, ascribed members of the Institute of Charity (Rosminians) and some of those friends and staff associated with the college.  Ratcliffe College is where Fr John began as a religious brother when he joined the Institute of Charity and where he taught on graduating from Cambridge, before beginning his priestly ministry.

The Rosminian Cemetery is at the rear of the college alongside the Rosminian Way and is permanently open, accessible to visitors at any (reasonable) time, so all are welcome to make future visits if they so wish.  A stone is being arranged to mark the burial spot.

Ratcliffe College can only be accessed via the Nottingham bound lane of the A46 and has a one-way system, exiting left onto Ratcliffe road for return travel to the A46 on onward journeys (see the map of the College campus below).  Note that it cannot be accessed from the Rosmini Centre and there is no official car park for the cemetery, only a layby. I advise parking on the Preparatory School car park and walking round to the cemetery. I shall be at the car park from 10.00 - 10.15 am to show people where to go.

The Interment ceremony is about 20 minutes and takes place in the cemetery only. Do note that there is a Requiem mass at 12.00 noon in Ratcliffe's Chapel of a former headteacher: make sure you join with the correct ceremony!

Refreshments following the service

There is not anywhere at Ratcliffe where we can gather to meet following the burial and, as some are travelling distance plus have possibly not had chance to meet since Fr John's funeral, I have arranged light refreshment at the Catholic Church in Syston and am grateful for their accommodating us. (Google says is 10 minutes from Ratcliffe - details below). As the cemetery service is outdoors we shall hope that the weather will be in our favour - remembering that Fr John would never encourage us to pray for good/dry weather, as that meant someone else would have to suffer the always needed rain!

I look forward to seeing you and thank you for planning to come this Easter Tuesday at short notice. I know from messages I've received that the date has prevented many others who would like to come from being with us, owing to transport problems or prior arrangements. However, it will be good to see those who can make it, a welcome representation of those for whom Fr John is fondly remembered.

Alison