RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS HOLLAND DD. PhD, DSC, DLitt. RETIRED BISHOP OF SALFORD

With gratitude in our hearts for a life lived in total communion with the Lord, we in the Diocese of Salford return Bishop Thomas Holland to the Lord from whom he came. Bishop Holland died peacefully at the North Manchester Hospital today, Thursday 30th September 1999 at 215p.m. His devoted former Secretary, Monsignor John Allen, Rev. Morley Morgan, the Anglican Chaplain and Monsignor Michael Quinlan, Vicar General were with him. They were praying with him when he died peacefully. In his last days the Bishop weakened but he remained calm and at great peace. The Mass at 1210p.m. (Friday 1st October) in Salford Cathedral will be offered for the repose of the Bishop's soul. Thomas Holland was born on 11th June 1909 at Southport, Lancashire, the fourth of seven children. His brother, Joseph Holland, was a priest of Liverpool Archdiocese. Two of his sisters became nuns, one a Poor Clare who joined at Levenshulme, Manchester and went to Bulwell, Nottinghamshire and then founded and became Abbess of Ellesmere, the other a member of the Congregation of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. He began his education at St. Marie's parish school, Southport, and at the age of 12 began his studies for the priesthood at the Liverpool Diocesan Seminary at Upholland, Wigan. He completed his studies at the English College, Valladolid in Spain, where he gained a Doctorate in Philosophy. On 18th June 1933 he was ordained priest in his home parish of Southport. After serving for a short time as assistant priest at the Sacred Heart Church, Liverpool, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, receiving a Doctorate of Divinity. In 1936 he returned to the English College, Valladolid, to teach Theology and Philosophy and from 1941 to 1943 he taught at the English College, Lisbon. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1943 and took part in the Normandy landings in the following year and won the Distinguished Service Cross. He also served in Ceylon and after the war he served as Port Chaplain in Bombay until 1948. On his return to England he joined the Catholic Missionary Society. While at the Society he was the Catholic Member of the London Public Morality Council. He was also editor of its magazine, the Catholic Gazette, for seven years. With Father George Dwyer (later Archbishop of Birmingham), he was invited by the New Zealand bishops on a six months preaching tour where he also helped to establish the Catholic Enquiry Centre in New Zealand. On leaving the Catholic Missionary Society in 1956 he became secretary to Archbishop Gerald Patrick O'Hara, the Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain. Four years later, on 21st December 196Q, he was consecrated Titular Bishop of Etenna and coadjutor Bishop of Portsmouth. On 3rd September 1964 he was transferred to become Bishop of Salford. After his resignation on 22nd June 1983 he continued in the diocese as Apostolic Administrator until 3rd April 1984. Bishop Holland attended the Second Vatican Council (1962 to 1965), was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity (1961 to 1973), and was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for NonBelievers (1965 to 1973). Pope Paul VI personally appointed him a member of the joint working group formed in 1965 between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, and he continued as the only English Catholic member until 1974. He was co~chairman of the group from 1972 to 1974. He was the first Chairman of the Roman Catholic Ecumenical Commission of England and Wales (1967 to 1970), and was President of the Mass Media Commission from 1965 to 1983. He has consistently campaigned against abortion and pornography, and worked to promote the sanctity of marriage and the stability of family life. He was the first Bishop in England to establish a Social Welfare Cornmission to coordinate the work of the Catholic relief agencies within the diocese. Ecumenism, education and the needs of the missions have all been important aspects of Bishop Holland's ministry. In 1980 he was awarded an Honorary Degree, DLitt, by Salford University. His personal interests include music, reading and sailing. He has written many articles in theological reviews, a children's adventure book "The Great Cross", published in 1958, and also, in collaboration with Archbishop Dwyer, a document on Our Lady "Mary  Doctrine for Everyman". His memoirs, *"For Better and For Worse", were published in 1989. Bishop Holland's body will be received into St. John's Cathedral on Thursday 7th October for concelebrated Mass at 730p.m. Requiem Mass will be celebrated for his eternal repose at 12 noon on Friday 8th October, followed by burial in the Cathedral.