I regret to inform you that Archbishop Lawrence Henry passed away on Tuesday 4th March at about 23h45. He died peacefully in Cape Town Medi-Clinic. Archbishop Henry had been undergoing tests over the past few days. His health took a turn for the worse on Sunday night when he experienced a great deal of abdominal pain and he was rushed to hospital. Doctors confirmed on Monday afternoon that he had cancer and that it had spread to different parts of the body. He was seen by an oncologist early on Tuesday afternoon. Despite doctors’ recognition of the seriousness of his condition the suddenness of his death was unexpected by all. Doctors have given us the assurance that Archbishop Henry died without pain.
Please keep him in your prayers and please ask parishioners at all your Masses today to pray for him. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.
I wish to offer my condolences to you and to all who mourn the passing of Archbishop Laurie.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
+Stephen Brislin
Archbishop of Cape Town
Our family have very fond memories of Abp Henry. While some of us were still at school, we received news that our Dad had been diagnosed with cancer. At the time, His Grace was our parish priest at Corpus Christi. He nursed the family through a very difficult period in our lives and buried Dad 31 years ago.
A very down to earth Prelate, he will be remembered for cracking jokes from the pulpit and for putting you at ease, especially our Confirmation candidates!
Many will also remember him for speaking out against the heresy of apartheid and in 2009, rather unfairly, he copped quite a fair amount of criticism from conservatives within the Church when he officiated at a memorial service for MK cadres, Coline Williams and Robert Waterwitch.
Abp Henry was a son of the soil and a true custodian of our Catholic faith.
Requiescat in pace
Rest in peace Your Grace. You were our beloved Archbishop, a truly humble man. You will be sorely missed.
He will be missed. A very special person to all of us. May the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace, Amen.
He was a very good person will be surely Miss by a lot .
My condolences to everyone .May his soul rest in Peace.