Fr James Casey CSsR RIP Requiem 30iv2026...

The Requiem Mass for Fr James Casey CSsR RIP

was streamed yesterday and can seen at the link.

Homily 

Rev’d Fr James Casey CSsR RIP

I can’t believe that I am here preaching at this funeral. I know he was 92 years old and I could see him becoming frailer on each visit but somehow I thought we’d always have Fr Jim Casey CSsR always by our side. 

The news of his death has gone worldwide - I know his family are spread in various places around the World - but he was a former Secretary General who served for a long time in Rome. The news literally went world wide as confreres in our 82 countries learnt of Fr Jim’s departure from this life to the Father’s house. When we Redemptorists die, our name is written on a piece of paper called the Officilia and that is sent to every province in the world, a thing that Fr Jim did for hundreds of Redemptorists, but if you are a well known figure you get your picture and story on the internet. I am saying all of this on purpose as some of you may not know the grandness of the man we are celebrating today!

Language was very important to Jim - the correct and proper use of the art of language was something always at the forefront of his mind. This was very true when he worked in Publications, when he went to Rome as a student, when he was in Hawkstone Hall, when he went to Rome as the General Secretary, as Rector of Sunderland and then Rector here in Bishop Eton and then for the past years as a retired religious and priest - preaching the word of God was of paramount importance for him - every homily, even to the last one he preached from here was skillfully crafted before it was presented. 

I first really got to know Fr Jim in Rome, 34 years ago. From him I learnt the art of Redemptorist hospitality! I was a 20 years old student, hadn’t even taken my first vows yet, my first time ever in Rome, Jim took me on long walks around the eternal city and showed me from his perspective the magnificence of Roma. He made me so welcome in our wonderful massive house in Rome, and I was a nobody. 

Italian is a beautiful language and Jim made it is his business to master that language as well as all the other languages that people wrote to him as Secretary General - I think he managed most of them and we had seven official languages back then, however I think him Vietnamese was at times tested! 

I remember two words he taught me in Italian.  He told me that many people like to learn Italian and that means saying please and thank you - per favore and grazie - but Fr Jim told me that one had to learn the real words of Italian and they are words like battiscopa and cicatrice. Battiscopa means skirting board and cicatrice means scar! I remember them or this day however. I have never been able to get them into a conversation when I am ordering a Pizza Margherita in Rome!

Scala news produced the following, 

"The Redemptorist General Curia in Rome and the Province of London express their condolences on the passing of Fr. James Casey, C.Ss.R., on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the age of 92.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 17, 1934, after serving in the Royal Air Force, he began his vocational journey by entering the Redemptorist novitiate in Kinnoull, Scotland, in 1956. He made his religious profession in 1957 and, after completing his studies at Hawkstone Hall, was ordained a priest on January 12, 1964.

In the early years of his ministry, he worked for Redemptorist publications in Chawton, where he edited the magazine Novena, contributing to evangelization through written media. He later furthered his education with studies in Rome, earning a Licentiate in Spirituality in 1976.

His pastoral service included mentoring students at Canterbury in the 1980s, as well as ministry as parish priest and rector at St Benet’s, Sunderland (1984–1987). He later served in the Hawkstone community, collaborating with other brothers in formation and spiritual life.

Father Casey played an important role in the life of the Redemptorist Congregation when he was appointed General Secretary from 1991 to 2000, a period that encompassed much of the leadership of Father Juan Lasso de la Vega and the beginning of Father Joseph Tobin’s term. His service in Rome was characterized by tireless dedication, contributing clarity, organizational acumen, and a fraternal spirit.

On his return to the UK, he continued to devote himself to local mission as rector in several communities: Bishop Eton, Liverpool (2002–2008), St. Benet’s (2008–2011) and again Bishop Eton from 2011 until his final years, where he was a faithful and close presence in the community.

Fr. James Casey will be remembered as a Redemptorist of profound spirituality, dedicated to the service of the Congregation and committed to pastoral life.

We thank God for his life, his vocation, and his generous service. May he rest in peace."

Office of the General Secretariat of the C.Ss.R

Family man - I feel that I know you all, and I have never met most of you, however I heard Jim speaks frequently about you all. He was very proud of you all. 

A man of deep spirituality - a man who tried to be holy but never claimed to be holy - and I think he was holy in a very real sense. A man who was aware of his frailty and I dare say, aware of his sinfulness. However as a Redemptorist Priest he knew the message that we proclaim constantly - Copiosa apud eum Redemptio - with the Lord there is Plentiful redemption. Today our hope, our desire and our prayer is that James Casey is now enjoining the fullness of the Lord’s redemption and mercy and glory today.

I think it only proper to allow Fr Jim to speak for himself now as I’m sure he is already thinking I have ruined this homily. This is from an article that he wrote in BE Alive 2017 and I think it could have written just now. 

Article BE Alive 2017

“Like the big child I am, I wanted to go home to our beloved Bishop Eton - yes, to the building, but more importantly to the community that gives life and purpose to the building. Waiting for the day of deliverance/homecoming was any- thing but easy.

What eased the pain of waiting were the constant visits to the Royal of the different members of our community. Not a day passed without a visit from at least one member of the community. Often, they arrived in threes and fours, helping each other along, and in danger of being mistakenly admitted. This kindness continued during my immediate convalescence at Christopher Grange and has continued to this day here in Bishop Eton, where our home-grown paramedics still attend to my daily techno– medical needs.

I’m back home again, and I’m ever so grateful for all that has been done for me. During my illness, I did live through some dark, even frightening, times, but despair was never an option. There were too many on my side. We were a power to be reckoned with. As we lived through this experience, grace, normally thought of as a theological truth, became a lived reality - became words of encouragement, a warm embrace, little acts of service, a willingness to wait and watch and listen and love. We were a grace-fuelled community and we were winners. As they say daftly on television these days: ‘Why don’t we all give ourselves a big round of applause?’”

To his community here in Bishop Eton he says so himself - and I too say this as the Provincial Superior - you are a grace fuelled community and as we say goodbye to Fr Jim today, hear his words of gratitude to each one of you! 

Now Fr Jim, I say to you,

Copiosa apud eum redemptio 

With the Lord there is fulness of redemption 

Requiescas in pace 

May you Rest in Peace 

Vivas in aeternum

May you Live for ever in eternity 

Fr Richard Reid CSsR

Provincial Superior