The late Mgr Tom Fallon, who died on 8 September 2011 - Our Lady’s birthday - had been the greatly esteemed Spiritual Director of the World Apostolate of Fatima in England and Wales since 1996.

In recent years the meetings of the WAF England and Wales committee took place at the presbytery of Fr Fallon’s parish church of St Francis of Assisi in Handsworth, Birmingham, and he was always a very gracious and welcoming host. In his latter years he did not usually take a very active part in the meetings, but would offer penetrating and helpful observations. It was always a pleasure to attend Mass before the meetings, which were quite often on the First Saturdays of the month, and see the truly Marian spirit which Mgr had encouraged in his parish.

When Fr Fallon originally became the National Spiritual Director, committee meetings were held regularly in the Convent of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, Wroughton, near Swindon in Wiltshire. After only a few meetings under his stewardship it was suggested that the venue of the meetings be changed to St Francis to save him the travelling time necessary for such a journey.

Fr Fallon had a deep love of Our Lady and of Fatima in particular. When he instituted a chapel of Perpetual Adoration in the presbytery, he installed a large statue of Our Lady of Fatima at one side of the tabernacle, and every year up to 2010 he insisted on leading the pilgrimage to Fatima and also, with his indomitable spirit, in taking part in all the ceremonies on foot, despite his painful walking infirmities. In that year, on account of his increasing lack of mobility, he invited Fr Gerard Kelly to accompany him.

The following year, since by then Fr Fallon was confined to hospital, Fr Gerard led the National Pilgrimage in his place, and faithfully maintained the spiritual programme that had been established by Fr Fallon, in conjunction with Michael Daley the National Pilgrimage Organiser. The uplifting nature of this programme is greatly appreciated by the pilgrims, and accounts for the strong and continuing support the pilgrimage receives, especially in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

His funeral Mass on 19th September at his former parish church of St Francis in Handsworth was a witness to his popularity and the love and respect with which he was held in the parish and much further afield. Before the entrance procession, one of his favourite Fatima hymns to Our Lady was sung, Totus Tuus, Maria, and then, recalling his admiration for Newman, Praise to the Holiest in the Height. The five devotional hymns after Communion reflected his great love of God and Our Lady.

Archbishop Longley of Birmingham Archdiocese concelebrated the Mass with two auxiliary Bishops and over 100 priests, the coffin was borne down the aisle shoulder high, and as it left the church the Salve Regina was sung. People came in such numbers that not only the church but the church hall next door was full to overflowing, with a giant screen provided so all could see and hear as the requiem Mass proceeded.

As the cortege was leaving St Francis in Handsworth, the massed congregation burst into a spontaneous round of applause. Afterwards around one hundred people went to the cemetery at Oscott for a very dignified and moving burial service led by Fr Gerard, when five decades of the Rosary were recited and the Salve Regina was again sung.

It is due to Fr Tom's hospitality that the Vietnamese Community throughout the UK regard St Francis in Handsworth as their spiritual home. They also shared with him a great love of Our Lady, especially Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The two communities of Vietnamese from Birmingham and London celebrated two separate Masses in St Francis on Sunday 18th Sept in order to accommodate all the Vietnamese people who wanted to pray for him and pay their respects.

The WAF England and Wales is deeply grateful for the spiritual guidance and leadership that we received from Fr Fallon. As a result, the Apostolate received several letters of appreciation from the then Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, who thanked Fr Fallon for taking Our Lady’s statue to people’s homes for Mass followed by the Rosary, and the Apostolate, for its work in promoting prayer, penance and the annual pilgrimage, for the intentions of the Church.

Fr Fallon was always cheerful, and bore the long period of increasingly intense suffering he endured before his death without a word of complaint in a spirit of Christian fortitude that was truly heroic. How fitting that he died on Our Lady’s birthday, having received the sacraments of the Church he so loved, surrounded by several priests and friends who were praying with and for him the Rosary that had ever been his inseparable companion.

Pray for us, dear Fr Tom, that we may be worthy to follow your example.

Email received from Prof. Americo Lopez-Ortiz on 10 September 2011:

On behalf of our dear Board of Trustees of the International World Apostolate of Fatima, I would like to extend my sympathy and condolences for the passing away of Mons. Thomas Fallon, the Spiritual Director of the WAF in England and Wales par excellence. Mons. Fallon was a very devoted priest always working for Our Lady of Fatima as a way to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. He was very active even when sick. He was an authentic institution in our Apostolate. Let us pray for the eternal repose of his soul although we have the conviction that he will be interceding for the WAF before the throne of Jesus Christ in heaven. Please extend our condolences to all WAF members and national committee of England and Wales as well as to Mons. Fallon’s relatives. God bless!

In Christ and Mary Queen,

Prof. Americo Pablo Lopez-Ortiz

International President of the WAF