Dear Pedro and Esperanza,

Thank you for the great gift of knowing your son Pedro.  It seems so long ago that we met in Harrogate and you welcomed me so warmly into your family. Your three boys as devout and eager altar servers, racing out of the sacristy to blow out the candles at the end of Mass!  I shall treasure memories of family meals at your home, faith-filled conversations, Monday evening YouCat session,celebrating with Pedro on his last birthday, visiting him in hospital, silently praying by his bedside a few days before he died.  Seeing Pedro grow into such an impressive and remarkable young man has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.  The past three years have been heart-breaking. But, at the same time, there have been moments of great beauty and grace.

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I remember how eager Pedro was to attend my induction at St Joseph’s.  I was so moved! And my family loved meeting him – and all of you! Pedro had a wonderful way of affirming my priesthood – and encouraging me to live out my vocation more fully! I shall miss his smile, his hugs, his warm friendliness, his lively intelligence, his sense of fun.  I have no doubt that he has made me a better priest and a better person, and I will pray that he will continue to do that from heaven.