DEAR EDITOR: As parish priest of St Theresa's, Woodbrook, I would like to pay tribute to an outstanding parishioner who recently passed away very unexpectedly.

As his son Blair, said in the appreciation of his life at his funeral: “God was ready, Byron was ready, but we were not ready”, neither family nor parishioners. The more the love the deeper the pain, and Byron was certainly a man who was deeply loved by all.

Why was he so loved by so many? Because he gave himself fully to everyone, to his family first of all, but also to his parish family, to his friends and to his students at the University of the West Indies .

Pope John Paul II was always fond of quoting the Vatican II document on the Church in the Modern World, “Man can only discover his true self in a sincere giving of himself.” Why is this so? Because that is how Jesus lived his life, a life, which culminated in a total donation of Himself on the Cross to the very last drop of His sacred blood.

Byron gave himself fully to his wife, Betty and to his children. He was always there for them. Byron and Betty were deeply involved in Marriage Encounter, but they only became involved after their children no longer needed their daily care and attention.

And in fact, many of our parishioners have told me how Byron and Betty have touched them by their living witness to the vocation of marriage.

And Byron has also been fully involved in our parish family. Again, a sincere gift of self in so many areas in our parish family, fully immersed in the day-to-day life of our parish. This began with Mass every morning, often leading our Morning Prayer.

He was the chairperson of our Parish Council, our chief accountant and finance man, very particular about the maintenance of our beautiful refurbished church and always there for anyone who needed his assistance, always reliable, energetic, helpful, smiling, humble.

Byron was certainly a model and an inspiration for us all. May he inspire us all to deepen our commitment to our own family, to our parish family, to our profession.

That is the only path to true fulfillment and happiness – a sincere gift to self. May he be blessed with the gift of eternal life in heaven, our eternal home.

Fr Gervais Girod CSSp, Woodbrook

A tribute to Mark who was killed violently some months ago

By H Vialva

To know you, your life had just begun;

Yet you understood maybe this was God's plan.

Forever wanting to be dan,

And having fulfilled your plan,

Why then should tragedy strike, stealing you away?

A handsome face and gentle words

Knowing just when to make your brother smile.

Your kindness toward him showed you loved him like no other.

Being a big brother you cared and it was known,

Even to the outside world.

For treasured moments he spent with you;

He loved you with a special love.

No one ever understood this bond,

You loving him, and him loving you was God's will,

we now understand.

Thanks for the memories.

He will surely miss you.