Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
St. Anne and Bl Dominic Monastery Lane, Sutton, St. Helens, rant Merseyside WA9 35P Passlonists Yel: (0744) 8k 1935 : Fax: (01744) 820557 FR. PIUS OF THE MOTHER OF SORROWS Fr. Pius Rotherham was born in Warrington on May 19th 1912 and died at Whiston Hospital on May 16th 1996 but in those 84 years what great service he had given to God. He first went to the Juniorate, then in Ireland, and returned for his Novitiate in Broadway, being professed on October 8th 1931. A class of students was formed in Ilkley under the direction of Fr. Jeremias. It was at Ilkley he was ordained in 1938 and from then on he was a busy man, concerned mainly with parish work but was also a Director of students, served for a term as Rector of St. David’s and was vicar in several other retreats. Much of his life was at Sutton where he was prominent in the ever-growing YCW movement which had such great influence on young people at work. Pius was always busy and full of energy but at the same time he recognised the supreme importance of the prayerlife of the Community and was exemplary in this. The change in his life came with the advent of a stroke in the seventies which crippled his speech. The present writer remembers so vividly visiting him in hospital and trying to get him to utter single syllables of words. He always had great difficulties from now on and was also unable to read. Thanks to the blessing of concelebration he was able to celebrate Mass each day. Although distressed by his handicap, there was never a word of complaint from him and he was an example of patience and acceptance. Eventually his disabilities became so severe that it was no longer possible for him to be cared for in the monastery and he was admitted to Whiston Hospital which proved for this faithful Passionist the gateway to Heaven, for he died there shortly afterwards. May he rest in peace. Liverpool! R.C. Archdloceaan Trustees Inc, Registered Charity No, 232709
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.