【慈幼通訊社
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2017
年
6月
12
日英國曼徹斯特訊】
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慈幼會前英語地區議員George
Cuthbert Williams神父，於2017年6月6日安息主懷，享年101歲。他在1916年5月26日生於沃勒西，為George
Frederick及Teresa
Williams的獨子。中學畢業後，他於利物浦大學修讀化學，其後取得由英國皇家化學學會頒授的哲學博士學位。1940年，他於政府供應部任職實驗主任，從事有關軍用手槍、彈藥及爆炸品的化學研究工作。1946年，他進入Beckford慈幼會初學院，於1947年矢發初願。
他於都靈Crocetta修讀神學，並於1954年晉鐸。根據眾多有關他個人的報告顯示，他慷慨大方，工作時充滿自我犧牲的精神，且又虔敬而盡責。Williams神父在英國會省，曾任Shrigley會院的教學監督暨院長、牛津Cowley會院院長及會省議員。他於1964獲任命為省會長，並於1970年成為羅馬慈幼宗座大學鮑思高團體院長。
Williams神父於1971擔任包括東亞澳地區大部份國家的英語地區議員一職，直至1983年。之後，他留在羅馬總院，協助把意大利文的慈幼會文件翻譯成英文，包括慈幼會會憲(1984年版本)，直至2002年止。
其後，他返回英國會省，於斯托克波特及博爾頓的聖若瑟會院過退休生活。他與慈幼會會士一起，快樂地度過他的101歲生辰，並得到了英國會省歷史中最長壽會士的美譽。他於一場突發的疾病後，在曼徹斯特醫院去世。
慈幼會英國會省秘書Kieran Anderson神父表示：「Williams神父熱切敬禮聖母進教之佑及聖鮑思高。他透過朝拜耶穌聖體，及每天彌撒感恩祭中，得到無比的慰藉和力量。我們懇求慈愛的天主，賜予他的靈魂安息。」
Fr. George Williams leaves us at the age of 101.
(ANS - Great Britain –Manchester, 12 June 2017) – Fr. George Cuthbert Williams, the former English Speaking Region Councilor, passed away on June 6, 2017, at the age of 101 years. He was born in Wallasey, on May 26, 1916, as the only child of George Frederick and Teresa Williams. After secondary school studies, he attended Liverpool University where he read Chemistry, and was later awarded a Ph.D. He was an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. In 1940, he was appointed to the Ministry of Supply, a UK governmental office where, as an Experimental Officer, he was involved as a research chemist working on wartime firearms, ammunition and explosives. In 1946, he was admitted to the Salesian novitiate in Beckford and made his First Profession in 1947.
He studied Theology at Crocetta, Turin and was ordained to the priesthood in 1954. All reports speak of him as a man generously self-sacrificing in his work, pious and conscientious. In the GBR Province, Fr Williams was a Teacher, Prefect of Studies and Rector at Shrigley, Rector at Cowley, Oxford and a member of the Provincial Council. He was appointed Provincial in 1964. In 1970 he was appointed Rector of the Don Bosco Community at the UPS, Rome.
From 1971 to 1983, Fr Williams served as the General Councillor for the English Speaking Region, which also included many of the present EAO countries . He remained at the General House, Rome, until 2002 where he assisted in the work of translation from Italian to English of many important Salesian documents including the SDB Constitutions (ed. 1984).
He returned to the GBR Province to live in retirement at Stockport and Bolton, St Joseph’s. He celebrated his 101st birthday with his Salesian confreres with joy, an accolade which established him as the oldest member ever to have lived in the history of the GBR Province! After a short illness, he died in hospital in Manchester.
“Fr Williams was very strong in his devotion to Mary Help of Christians and to Don Bosco. He found great comfort and strength in visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and in the daily celebration of the Eucharist. To the loving mercy of God, we commend the repose of his soul,” says Fr. Kieran Anderson, SDB, Provincial secretary of the Province of Great Britain.