A PRIEST from Belfast whose funeral will be held tomorrow has been fondly remembered for inspiring the formation of Irish centres across the United States.
Fr Colm Campbell died peacefully in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday following a short illness. He was due to celebrate his 80th birthday yesterday.
The priest was founder and president of the New York Irish Center and former director of the Irish Apostolate USA.
His work to create an Irish centre in New York is said to have inspired the formation of centres for Irish people in cities across America.
Born in Belfast in 1935, Fr Campbell lived in the north through most of the Troubles before moving to New York in 1992.
After seven years he left for Washington to become the national director of the Irish Apostolate USA.
He worked closely with the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, a group coordinating US services for Irish migrants.
Fr Campbell organised the purchase of a property in 2003 and it was officially opened as the New York Irish Center in 2005.
He returned to Belfast in recent years for health reasons and to be closer to friends and family.
Paul Finnegan, executive director of the New York Irish Center, described Fr Campbell as a "unique and caring individual".
"He looked out for the most vulnerable in our community. Getting the Irish centre started with the limited resources at his disposal was nothing short of a miracle," he said.
"He was a lightning rod for good work in the community and that's why we have the fine centre we have today."
The 49-year-old said a special Mass would be held on Wednesday for older people involved in the centre in memory of Fr Campbell.
Fr Dan Whyte (79), who knew Fr Campbell since their school years, said the priest worked well with young people and was director of youth services in the Diocese of Down and Connor before moving to the US.
"He heard that a New York diocese was looking for a chaplain to help with the hundreds of Irish people who were flooding in undocumented, generally friendless and rudderless," said the retired Glengormley priest.
He added: "The Irish centre in New York was a refuge and a second home to young Irish people and inspired the formation of other Irish centres throughout the United States – he was a forerunner and a man of vision.
"What he left behind flourished and continues to grow to help young people in New York and other US cities."
Fr Campbell's remains will leave Nazareth Care Village on Belfast's Ravenhill Road today at 6pm to arrive for 6.30pm at the Good Shepherd Church, Ormeau Road.
Requiem Mass will take place tomorrow at 11.30am with committal at 1.30pm at Roselawn Crematorium.
