Adios To Rev. Fr. Patrick Digby
Adios To Rev. Fr. Patrick Digby
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
Rev. Fr. Patrick Digby
Born: 11.12.1933
Ordained: 21.12.1958
Expired : 26.06.2016
We are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved Rev. Fr. Patrick Francis Digby, Senior Priest-retired of our Archdiocese, who died on Sunday, 26th June at 3.30 p.m. at Clergy House, Bengaluru. He did not have any major sickness, except that he had a few minor health problems. At the time of his death, his brother and sister, and staff of Clergy House were around him praying as he commended his soul into the hands of the Lord.
Rev. Fr. Patrick Digby was born on 11th December, 1933 at Matunga, Bombay. His parents were: The Late Mr. Joseph Digby and the late Mrs. Ethel Paes. He did his schooling in St. Mary’s High School, Bombay. After completing his Senior Cambridge Grade I, he joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Bangalore. He was sent to the Papal Seminary, Kandy (Sri Lanka) which was later shifted to Poona, to do his Major Seminary Studies. He obtained Licentiates in Philosophy and in Theology with good credits. On 21st December, 1958, he was ordained a priest at the Papal Seminary by the late Bishop Andrew D’Souza, the then Bishop of Poona.
Since his Ordination, Fr. Patrick Digby rendered his 57.5 years of dedicated service at the following places:
| 08.05.1959 | Secretary | Archbishop’s House |
| 25.01.1960 | Asst. Parish Priest | St. Thomas Church, Davangere |
| 15.01.1962 | Asst. Parish Priest | St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Cleveland Town |
| Prefect | St. Mary’s Seminary | |
| Spiritual Director | Legion of Mary Comitium | |
| Director | Information Bureau of the Archdiocese | |
| 05.05.1968 | Asst. Parish Priest | St. James Church, Mariannapalya |
| 13.01.1969 | Chancellor | Archdiocesan Curia |
| 1969 | Spiritual Director | Comitium, Legion of Mary (Kannada) |
| 1969 | Chaplain | Catholic Nurses’ Guild |
| 14.07.1972 | Parish Priest | St. Thomas Church, Davangere |
| 01.04.1975 | Procurator | Archdiocese of Bangalore |
| 01.07.1982 | Parish Priest | St. Thomas Church, Davangere |
| July 1987 | Parish Priest | Assumption Church, Rajajinagar |
| June 1994 | Parish Priest | St. Joseph’s Church, Channapatna |
| 01.06.1997 | Parish Priest | St. Patrick’s Church, Brigade Road |
| 01.06.2003 | Parish Priest | Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Rajarajeshwari Nagar |
| 13.06.2005 | Rector | Bhakti Bhavan (Minor Seminary) Da Costa Layout |
| 06.06.2009 | Retired | Clergy Home |
| 26.06.2016 | R.I.P. |
The late Rev. Fr. Digby was a man of prayer and known for his simplicity, discipline, hard work and meticulous planning. His simple life style was an inspiration to his brother-priests as he gave minimum attention to his personal needs and comforts. Everyone is quite aware that he was a silent worker and an organized administrator. During his tenure as the Procurator of the Archdiocese, many new sites were purchased for the future development of the Archdiocese, and also new construction works were undertaken. One such construction work was the extension of the Workers’ Centre. As Fr. Digby was a remarkable person of mind and heart, he was put in charge of priestly formation. As the Prefect of the then St. Mary’s Minor Seminary and later as the Rector of Bhakthi Bhavan, he took keen interest in forming the minor seminarians. He devoted his time in teaching the candidates English and Latin, and in giving them spiritual discourses. A few of his students who are priests now do still remember his classes and erudite presentations.
Fr. Digby was proficient in Kannada and served the rural parishioners with priestly zeal and commitment. As the Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary, he promoted the Marian Devotion in the Archdiocese. Although he was a quiet person as mentioned above, he was known for his humour, pithy and witty sayings. He had a positive outlook in life and, therefore, he used to always say to others: Ne varias (Don’t worry)!
At the death of Fr. Patrick Digby, we have lost a senior priest of our Archdiocese. Let us continue to pray for the repose of his soul in gratitude to God for his dedicated service to all of us in the Archdiocese.
On behalf of all of us, I express my heartfelt condolences to the late Fr. Digby’s close relatives, extended family members and friends. May the Lord grant all of them strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. We assure them of our prayerful support and our union with them in their bereavement.
His Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday, 28th June, 2016 at 10.30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Road. The mortal remains of Rev. Fr. Patrick Digby will be kept for public homage at Sacred Heart Church on 28th June from 9.30 a.m. onwards.
All the Priests of the Archdiocese of Bangalore are requested to offer three Masses for the repose of the soul of Rev. Fr. Fr. Patrick Digby.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let your perpetual
Light shine upon him. And may his soul rest in peace. Amen
+ Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore