PATER NOSTER CATHOLIC PARISH MYAREE MEMORIAL MASS FOR FR WILLIAM (LARRY) REITMEYER Fr William (Larry) Reitmeyer passed to eternal life on Sunday 5 February 2012. Memorial Mass with Archbishop Hickey as Celebrant was held at 9.30 am Sun 12 Feb in Pater Noster Church. Fr Larry was appointed to Corpus Christi Myaree in March 2002 and was charged by Archbishop Hickey to make a viable parish or close the parish. The challenge to make the parish viable appealed to Fr Larry and to get the parishioners energised he suggested a church be built. His efforts and the efforts of the parishioners were brought to fruition in December 2007 when Archbishop Hickey consecrated the new church, and in doing so changed the name of the Parish to Pater Noster. The style, decor and spiritual ambience of the new church has won many favourable comments from visitors and is maintained with pride by the parishioners. Having completed the task asked of him by his good friend Archbishop Hickey, and approaching his 80th birthday, Fr Larry returned to his family in his homeland State of New Mexico in March 2008. Many parishioners kept in touch with him by letter, email and visits. He has been, and will be, greatly missed. God bless you Fr Larry and may you rest in peace. The Mass was concelebrated by His Grace Archbishop Hickey, Pater Noster Parish Priest Fr Joseph Lee, Indonesian Chaplain Fr Siriakus Ndolu and retired priest and friend of Fr Larry, Fr Tim Foster. They were assisted by the Parish Deacon John Kiely who is the first person on the left. His Grace Archbishop Hickey delivering the eulogy for Fr Larry. During "the Word" of the Mass the young children were taken to the Parish Hall and participated in an activity to gain some insight into the Gospel of the day. They returned just prior to the Offertory and showed the clergy their work. Fr Larry encouraged this activity and would have been heartened to see the long line up of young children waiting to explain what they had done. The choir, though modest in number, provided quality support to the farewell liturgy for Fr Larry. Mervyn Bond, who chaired the new church project committee, and His Grace Archbishop Hickey at the end of the Mass. SEQUEL TO THE MEMORIAL MASS ENTRY The Western Australian Catholic newspaper, The Record, published an obituary for Fr Larry in their publication of Wednesday 8 April 2012. A copy of this article follows. Return to Home page |