TODAY we honour Brother Gregory Tirkey, MOP, who has gone unto the Lord. On June 26, after morning prayers and Holy Mass, he went ahead of the brothers and had an early breakfast. But he felt sleepy and tired and lay down on his bed.

But suddenly, he fell off his bed. A brother came by chance and saw Brother Gregory on the floor struggling. The brother called other members to help him get back on his bed. After a few hours of sleep Brother Gregory once again fell off his bed. But this time, he hit his head and bled. The brothers were alarmed and rushed him to University Hospital where he was found to have suffered a major stroke.

The next day, at 2:00 am, while still at the emergency care department, the doctors called us because Brother Gregory had suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest. He immediately died. We were shocked and distressed.

He had not suffered any ill health, any heart problems, or any physical pains. He was strong and normal as any person could be, and he was only 62 years old and filled with the Spirit of God.

As his spiritual father I received Brother Gregory into Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) in September 1993. From his very first day of entry Brother Gregory indicated that he wanted a simple life of poverty in humble service to the homeless and destitute. He was at ease at our monastery in Orissa, north India, from the very first day.

He was in his element living a life of prayer, discipline, silence and kindliness to all his religious brothers. Not only that, but he was smiling, joyful and even exuberant in serving the homeless and destitute. He offered a wonderful sense of humour to our residents, and to the hundreds of beggars who came to our centres and monasteries seeking food, water, clothing or even just a little kind conversation and opportunity to pray in our chapel, at the foot of our statue of the Blessed Mother, St Joseph, or Jesus.

Brother Gregory had a strong inclination to speak about the spiritual life, the scriptures, and his deep personal experiences. He wanted very much to share the scriptures, the struggles and temptations in his inner life. He encouraged the brothers to struggle for a life of holiness and perfection. He told them that they should overcome their feelings and temptations for the things of the world, and seek the things of the heavenly kingdom. Brother Gregory never deviated in his quest to live a community life centred on Christ’s joyful service to the least of our brothers and sisters.

Brother Gregory proved to be a real missionary. After taking his final vows in June 1999 he was sent to our young and growing mission in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, where he spent three fruitful years ministering to the men and women at the Asile Communal with great patience and humble concern.

Brother Gregory had a college degree in languages before he joined MOP. In Haiti he learned to speak Creole and French quickly and effectively. After an outstanding term in Haiti he was sent to our fledgling mission in Kampala, Uganda, in May 2002.

Aside from India and Haiti during the 32 years with MOP, he also served at our missions in Jamaica and the Philippines. Brother Gregory encountered thousands of people, gifting to everyone he met a little portion of Christ’s peaceful, loving kingdom.

After a hiatus of 26 years Brother Gregory returned to Jamaica in March this year, eager to carry on our MOP vision and charism of word, works and witness to the people of Jamaica. But God’s ways are not man’s ways. Pleased with Brother Gregory’s time here on Earth, on June 27 our Lord called him to his eternal reward. I offer these comforting words taken from the gospel of Matthew 25:23: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.”

We give thanks to God for the 62 years of Brother Gregory’s life. We would like to have had many more years of his generous and loving presence, “But the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be His name.” (Job 1:21).

The burial was held on Saturday at 10:00 am, after a service at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Father Richard Ho Lung