A dream came true for Paul Mercer when he celebrated Mass in Tralee

THE death has taken place of Fr. Jeremiah Peter Paul Mercer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England and formerly of Ashe Street, Tralee. Paul, as he was known to family and friends, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8, at West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

Aged 78, Paul was born on June 27, 1938, eldest son of Jeremiah (Mio) Benedict Mercer and Helen (Eily) Mercer (nee Costello). He had one younger brother, James (Jimmy).

The family moved to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in the late 1950s and it was there Paul was to meet his future wife, Marie Curran, who hailed from Leith, Tralee. Although both Paul and Marie had grown up in Tralee, their paths crossed for the first time in Bury St Edmunds.

Their love blossomed and they became husband and wife in 1966 at their local Parish Church, which was the centre of family life. Their union was blessed with four sons – Peter, David, John and Paul – who were Baptised, received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the same Church.

Paul returned ‘home’ to Tralee over the years with Marie, where they visited relatives and reminisced about times past.

Theirs was a very happy marriage, but sadly Marie passed away on August 4, 1998, at the age of 56. Paul’s strong faith helped him and the family cope with the loss of a wife and mother.

Three years later Paul went on to be ordained a Catholic Priest in his home parish of St Edmunds King & Martyr in Bury St Edmunds, having first been ordained one of 20 Deacons to the Diocese of East Anglia in 1991.

In 2003, accompanied by his sons, he fulfilled a childhood dream when he celebrated the Sacrament of Mass in his local Church, St John’s, Castle Street. He went on to lead a very busy role as assistant priest in Bury during the following years.

Although officially retired from the Priesthood in 2015, Fr Paul still played an active role in the local parish, until very shortly before his death.

Requiem Mass was held in his Parish Church, St Edmunds King & Martyr, Bury St Edmunds, on Friday, September 23 and a private burial was held at St Edmundsbury Cemetery.

Fr Paul is sadly missed by his family, parishioners and friends.

He is reunited once more with Marie, safe in the arms of Jesus and His Blessed Mother.

Fr Paul Mercer RIP