We announce the sad news of the death of Fr Joseph Alphonsus Carter on 16 December 2024,
Fr Joe died peacefully at Craigavon Area Hospital in Portadown, Co Armagh. Born Lurgan, Co Armagh on 14 May 1936 and ordained on 12 July 1986 at St Bernadette’s, Hillingdon by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB, Fr Joe had been living in retirement in Ireland since 2017.
Fr Joe’s Funeral Mass will at St Peter’s Church, North Street, Lurgan on Friday 20 December at 10.30am followed by cremation at Lakelands Crematorium, Co Cavan. The Mass will be livestreamed: www.lurganparish.com/stpeters-webcam/
Condolences are extended to Fr Joe’s family and friends and to parishioners who knew him from his ministry in the Diocese and more recently in Ireland.
Fr Joe was a member of the Deceased Clergy Association.
We pray for the peaceful repose of Fr Joe’s soul:
Hear with favour our prayers,
which we humbly offer, O Lord,
for the salvation of the soul of Fr Joe your servant and priest,
that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name,
may rejoice in the perpetual company of your saints.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Obituary
Many Irishmen who live abroad for a variety of reasons – including ministry as a priest – long for the time when they can return home, to Ireland, to enjoy retirement with time for family and friends in a familiar environment. Fr Joseph Carter’s hopes were fulfilled. Having served as a priest in the Diocese of Westminster for thirty-one years he returned home to Ireland where he continued to help in local parishes, including St Peter’s in Lurgan, the parish where he lived on Stevenson Park, the street where his beloved sister Eilish lives, and where his Funeral Mass took place four days after his death on 16 December 2024 at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Fr Joe was born in Lurgan, Co Armagh on 14 May 1936, the first of three children born to Thomas and Mary (formerly Breen) Carter. Three days later he was baptised at St Peter’s Church in Lurgan and was confirmed in the same church six years later. His secondary education was as a boarder at St Colman’s College in Newry, Co Down from 1948-52. He took employment first as a junior invoice clerk in Crumlin, Co Antrim and then as a general clerk and book keeper in Portadown before employment as a senior accountancy assistant in Belfast where he worked for ten years. During this time he undertook further education at Belfast College of Technology from 1958-60 to study book keeping and accountancy.
In 1968 Joe came to England for work as an accountant, rising to accounts office supervisor, for a large pharmaceutical company in Wembley where he worked until 1970. His next job was in the City, followed by work for a company on Tooley Street, London SE1. He became Company Secretary in 1974 then Financial Director in 1976 before being appointed Managing Director. Thoughts about a vocation to the priesthood matured and, at the age of 46 years, Joe offered himself to the Diocese of Westminster for priesthood. At the time he lived in Hornsey in north London. After completing the selection process he went to study for the priesthood at the Beda College in Rome in 1982.
Ordained to the priesthood on 12 July 1986 at St Bernadette’s, Hillingdon by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB, Fr Joe was appointed Assistant Priest at Our Lady and St Joseph, Hanwell where he remained until 1989. His next appointment was to St Vincent de Paul, Osterley as Parochial Administrator from 1989-93. St David’s, Stanwell was Fr Joe’s first appointment as a Parish Priest, from 1993-95. He was then appointed Parish Priest at Our Lady Immaculate and St Frederick, Limehouse where he served for a year. His next appointment was Parish Priest at St Joseph’s, Bedwell in Stevenage in 1996. While serving at Bedwell he was appointed Parish Priest of the Transfiguration and Christ the King, Stevenage in 1998. In 2001 Fr Joe left Stevenage for a period of leave to receive care in a residential setting. In September 2002 he returned to the Diocese ready to take up his appointment as Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s, Wembley. He moved from Wembley in 2006 to serve as Assistant Priest at SS Sebastian and Pancras, Kingsbury Green for a few months before going to live at Marian House Nursing Home in Hillingdon, west London as resident Chaplain in the summer of 2006. He was content and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, staff and residents were content with Fr Joe’s presence and ministry.
In the latter years of Fr Joe’s priestly ministry, during his time of semi-retirement at Marian House, he remained steadfast in his ministry, celebrating daily Mass with brief but meaningful homilies and bringing Holy Communion to fellow residents. However, Fr Joe’s increased mobility issues necessitated retirement, with care, and this was provided at Nazareth House in East Finchley. But his desire to return to Ireland meant his stay was short. In September 2017, at the age of 82 years, he moved to Lurgan to live independently but with the support that was needed. His intention was to provide supply ministry locally and this was welcomed by the clergy.
Shy and introverted by nature, Fr Joe’s priesthood was characterized by unwavering dedication to his parishioners. His kind spirit and commitment to the Diocese and to parish ministry endeared him to priests and parishioners, earning their respect and appreciation. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, wrote and sent a message that was read to the congregation at Fr Joe’s Funeral Mass on 20 December. The letter concluded, ‘As we reflect upon and celebrate the life of a much-loved priest who gave so much to the Church, it is good to remember the many lives he touched with his gentle presence and commitment. His love for God and his people will continue to be a source of inspiration...May this good and faithful servant of the Lord rest in peace and rise in glory.’ Amen.
