PASSIONIST Fr John Craven has been remembered as a man of action who stood with the people, whether on the streets of north Belfast or in tough South African townships.
Fr Craven, who died last Thursday, was attached to the Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne for the last seven years. He was originally from Newry.
The 77-year-old, as a recovering alcoholic, sober for more than five decades, was particularly known for his work with alcoholics anonymous (AA), helping many over the years, revealing “solidarity with his comrades”, mourners at his requiem mass were told.
He always said his “demons took him to some difficult and dark places”, Fr Gary Donegan told the congregation. But this made him, a man of action who “got involved in the mess, in the dirt, in the struggles of people’s lives”, Fr Donegan said. He treated people with “dignity and respect” and with “open arms to all”.
“He lived for the people of this parish,” Fr Donegan said. And, for a man not known for his “cuddles and hugs”, he told a friend only recently, simply: “I love this place.”
Fr Donegan recalled how during a security alert at Holy Cross last March – during which then the Republic's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney was evacuated – Fr Craven took charge.
A funeral was due to take place so he simply set up a trestle in the car park and went ahead with the service.
On another occasion, Fr Craven was on the streets during a riot. He was hit on the ankle with a plastic bullet.
“He howled in pain…and questioned the parentage of the person who fired it,” said Fr Donegan. But “he was there, not AWOL, in the midst of what his parishioners were experiencing".
Fr Donegan also recalled how Fr Craven responded at times of extreme pressure in the community. "Hi boy, bucket of balls," he would say. It was the signal to head to Massarene Golf Club.
Over the last year, Fr Craven did experience ill health and was due to go on a sabbatical. But it never happened as he took seriously ill last Monday while saying Mass.
He was taken to the Mater Hospital the following morning where he died. Fr Donegan remembers his last communication, a big thumbs up as he was being wheeled past into the intensive care unit.
Members of the late priest’s family and , many in the local community were joined by Passionists from various parts of Ireland and Scotland, where he served in St Mungo’s parish in Glasgow prior to coming to north Belfast. He served previously in Pretoria in South Africa.
In an earlier statement, Holy Cross NS said: “Our nursery school is saddened at the death of our esteemed Chairperson Fr John Craven. He was a cherished member of our board of governors and will be sadly missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, Passionists and the entire community at this sad time. May he rest in peace."
Fr Craven is survived by sisters Anne and Marjorie, along with his nephews and nieces. He was buried in the grounds of Holy Cross.
