Fr William Spicer RIP

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Fr William Spicer SSC (1949 - 2009)

Fr William (Willie) Spicer was born in Westport on 24 September 1949. Educated at the Christian Brothers School in Westport, he joined the Columbans in Dalgan in 1967 and was ordained priest on 14 April 1974. He was appointed to Japan in the same year and began language studies in Tokyo. His first appointment was as assistant in Chibadera, District of Chiba, in the Archdiocese of Tokyo.  Later, he became assistant in St Patrick’s Parish in Tokyo City.

While there in 1987 he suffered a severe heart attack, after which he was forced to rest for a year. He then returned to Chibadera as pastor.

In 1995 he was appointed as pastor in Chigasaki, in the Diocese of Yokohama and he served there for seven years.  

Willie was always a hardworking pastor and missionary, totally committed to whatever work he had in hand. In Chibasaki he showed great courage, compassion and patience in developing an excellent programme for the homeless poor, and in leading that Christian community to an  awareness of this new phenomenon in Japan. In 2002 he moved to Hadano, Kanagawa-ken and after two years there was asked to return to Ireland in 2004.

In Ireland, he was  assigned to promotion work and, starting in Kerry, he preached in nine different dioceses over the past five years, most recently in Armagh.  He also served as a member of the Regional Council. Willie was deeply committed to Gospel values and to Columban mission. A man of integrity, he was the first to own up to and to accept his own shortcomings.

He was strong in arguing his own position but willing to acknowledge the validity of positions different to his own.

He suffered a massive heart attack while visiting friends in Limerick on 24 July and died immediately.  He will be buried in the cemetery at Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath.

May he rest in peace.