I will always remember the letters from Frank Joyce, a loyal supporter of the Columbans from Govan in Glasgow, Scotland, because he always wrote a joke as part of his letter. He also enclosed a generous cash donation which came out of his meagre pension.
The Columban office staff here at Solihull in the United Kingdom thought it appropriate that the Regional Director reply to Frank's letters which I was more than delighted to do! Through our correspondence, we became great friends over the few years I knew him. I eventually persuaded him to allow his niece to write a cheque on his behalf as sending cash through the mail was quite the risk. I was always under pressure when I replied to include 'a joke'.
On one occasion when I was in Glasgow visiting my Columban colleagues I went to visit Frank at his home in a tenement flat in Govan. The day I called in I got no reply but his neighbour informed me that Frank was quite deaf and suggested I leave a note for him.
I then returned the following morning to find the front door open. I called out and walked into his small living room where I met Frank. He sat in a wheelchair with a few pieces of furniture around him, including a small table covered with a lovely white table cloth, cups, saucers, milk and sugar.
I did not know, until that moment, that Frank had no legs. He told me he was in the tank regiment during the Second World War and in the battle of Alamein his tank was hit by a shell and he was badly injured.
He had adopted the Columbans as his favourite charity after hearing a Columban Priest speak at a parish mission some years before and had continued to support us with regular donations from his pension.
We had a lovely visit and I felt privileged to be in the company of a great man. Before I left, I gave Frank a special blessing and felt that I had received as much from the visit, if not more, than Frank had.
Frank died some time later and I, together with two other Columbans and the parish priest celebrated his Requiem Mass in his parish church in Govan.
Some weeks later I received a letter from the manager of Barclays Bank enclosing a cheque for £1500 for the Columban mission. It was a final gift from Frank Joyce and it was the total sum left in his bank account. May he rest in peace.
It was a privilege to have known Frank Joyce and his example of generosity is typical of many of our loyal Columban supporters who are remembered daily in our Masses and prayers.
Fr Bernard McDermott SSC lives and works at St Columban's, Solihull, Britain.
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