We keep each year in St Bernadette’s the memorial of St Oliver Plunkett, a saint not included in the universal calendar but celebrated locally. An Irish saint and martyr, St Oliver studied for the priesthood in Rome before becoming Archbishop of Armagh. His tireless pastoral zeal did much to build up the church in the difficult circumstances of 17th century Ireland.
He was martyred after a false accusation of conspiracy against the British state. St Oliver Plunkett was the dedication of the old Catholic church in South End under which parish Walmer fell (see image below), and the saint is therefore the first Catholic patron of this our district. St Oliver also has an interesting and significant historic connection with the Oratory, for he was resident with the Oratorians in Rome during his stay in the city, a connection noted by Pope St Paul VI in his sermon at St Oliver’s canonisation in 1975.
(Image [above]: St Oliver Plunket, by or after Garrett Morphey, possibly after Edward Lutterell, based on a work of 1681, National Portrait Gallery, London.)
