The Catholic parish of St Peter’s, Strand suffered a significant loss last week. Its deacon, Rev Lester May, who gave 29 years of faithful service to the community and the Helderberg, died aged 77 on Saturday 9 May.
“He desired that people know and grow in their faith, especially young people,” said parish priest Fr Brandon West, who also serves St Monica’s, Lwandle.
May ministered across False Bay, including St Paul’s in Somerset West, St Stephen the Martyr in Macassar and Our Lady of Montserrat in Betty’s Bay, before serving his final eight years as permanent deacon at St Peter’s and St Monica’s.
For nearly three decades he was involved in every aspect of parish life, leading Wednesday communion services, running confirmation classes, presiding over the Good Friday service at St Monica’s and distributing food parcels to those in need.
“Because he was well-known, some parishioners tended to approach him first about family issues and he would, to the best of his ability, counsel wherever he could,” West said.
Long before he wore the collar May was simply a boy from Simon’s Town, and to his wife, Heather (74), he never really stopped being that person. The two grew up in the naval area, both working for the South African Navy, and a courtship quietly blossomed.
“He was quite an outgoing boy,” she recalled. “Lester loved talking to people and engaging with them.”
The couple married in 1972 and had two daughters, Marcelle and Dominique. May was 47 when ordained, his calling rooted in a desire to give people a better understanding of the church and to foster a deeper love for the Lord, though this did not always make life simple.
“Sometimes things were difficult, because he would just sit down to lunch and the priest would call to say he was not able to go to Busamed in Strand, asking Lester to please oblige, and he did,” she pointed out. “Interestingly, the church always tells deacons their family comes first.”
May found ways to weave his faith into his family life. Among his proudest moments was marrying both his daughters and baptising all six of his grandchildren. He also visited Rome three times, meeting Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
May battled skin cancer since the late 1980s. In November last year he was diagnosed with two brain melanomas and his health declined rapidly afterwards.
“To see the person I lived with for 54 years suffer in this way effectively destroyed me,” his widow declared. “He fought the fight. He ran the race and I am sure he is getting his reward now.”
May’s legacy lives on through every funeral he presided over, every marriage witnessed, every child baptised and every young person prepared for confirmation.
๏ผA requiem mass was held on Monday (18 May) at St Patrick’s church, Mowbray.
You must be logged in to post a comment.