Martin Hollins’ Memorial Mass
A Celebration of Life
Friday 21st February, 14.00
Worth Abbey & online
There are two ways you can join us on the day:
Either you can directly view the service online via this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/49qZ935vle0​
Or Katie Livesey and Pip Weitz will be hosting via Zoom from 13.30. This way you will be able to watch the service together with other friends of Martin, and chat with them before and after the service. All who knew Martin are welcome to join this session, so do share this page with anyone you think would be interested. Click on the link below to watch the live stream together.​
Please note: Worth Abbey are having a planned power outage on the Friday morning, so there is a slight chance the online streaming may start late if it takes a while for systems to get back online.
​There will also be a recording of the service made available online afterwards. We will share the link here for that after the service.
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LCSB Zoom
Joining Details
13.30 - 15.30
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86516392819?pwd=Jfb61hbXMQ9jOFshIdS1Q0Sv9fUMs7.1
Meeting ID: 865 1639 2819
Passcode: 621536
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As a community, we were so sad to hear the news that Martin had died on 12th January. We were comforted in the knowledge that it was peaceful and that he was surrounded by the love of his family, singing his favourite hymns. I cannot remember a time when Martin was not a guiding presence in the Lay Community along with Sheila, and throughout the course of many years, Kathryn, Nigel, Emily, and Abigail. This is a personal tribute to Martin and in the next edition of Listen we will have a full appreciation of his life and achievements and of his many significant contributions to the story of the LCSB.
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Martin was always gracious, witty, welcoming, kind and a wonderful person to talk to. If I think about the last 5 years while I have been leader, he was ever supportive with a wise and a kind word and, as we grow as a community, I realise what a gift that is. It reminded me of the monastery - when you spoke to the elder monks, you felt that they were full of understanding and compassion. Martin had reached that moment we all aspire to as lay Benedictines, with the end of life so beautifully described in the Prologue to the Rule - “dilatato corde” “with heart overflowing with the inexpressible sweetness of love”. Nowhere was this more in evidence than Tuesday nights when right up to the end Martin used to read in Vespers. Emily approached me a year ago and said that her dad still loved saying the prayers, and we decided that it would be lovely for him to do the closing prayer. He poured his heart into it. We who witnessed this knew at what personal cost this was, but love and determination drove him on. The first Tuesday without him was an especially poignant moment.
Inspired by the Shakespeare quote, that “nothing in his life became him like the leaving it” I reflect on the last year. He knew perfectly well what the diagnosis was, and also the prognosis. He was a scientist. At Fr Stephen Ortiger’s funeral in February, which was for Martin and all of us the first time to see certain old friends, Martin was telling people in an open and uncomplicated way that he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. It is one of the most challenging diseases and Martin was fearless and trusting, an example of courage and faith in the face of adversity.
Then there was Lourdes in July.
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Sheila and Martin had never been to Lourdes before and Martin entered into the experience with confidence, grace and humility. Everyone loved him in their group. One of my highlights of this year’s pilgrimage was going to visit them in their room and seeing the pleasure they were having in each other’s company and enjoying breakfast in bed (served by multiple LCSB members who were working in the catering team). Every moment is precious, and according to Sheila, what Martin most appreciated was the kindness and friendship of everyone on the pilgrimage.
Lastly there was visiting Martin at home at the end of November. I did not know it would be our last visit. I went with Catherine, my daughter, who has also grown up knowing and loving Martin and all the Hollins family. We spent time together while Madeleine slept peacefully in her pram. Talking was a struggle for Martin, but he still engaged us in a passionate discourse, which we understood with help from Sheila. Our last memory is of Sheila and Martin having a gentle stroll arm in arm in their garden. Once again, dear Martin, reaching the end of his earthly journey, was full of what I can only call a heavenly peace.
So, dear Martin, leading where one day we hope to join you, we thank you for all the love and joy you brought to us all, and we pray for your eternal rest and for Sheila and all the family as they grieve your loss.
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Adam Simon, Leader of The Lay Community of St Benedict