Remembering … fr Sylvester Basil Baxter OP (1907-1979)
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In the month of November particularly we pray for the dead. Godzdogz commends to your prayers the deceased Friars and Nuns of the English Province as well as the Dominican Sisters, priest tertiaries, and Dominican Laity who have lived and worked in England, Wales and Scotland. We will recall the life stories of a number of the friars, representatives of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that has gone before us.
fr. Sylvester Basil Baxter was born in Bradford in 1907. He was clothed in the habit of the Order at the age of 19 and made profession in the September of 1927. He completed his studies in Oxford and was ordained to the priesthood in 1932. In 1933 he was sent to be curate at Woodchester.
He excelled in this role and the prior Hyacinth Koos OP declared him the best curate he had ever had. In 1934 he was sent to the mission in Grenada but was struck down with a severe bout of malaria. He spent four years in the West Indies but never really recovered from the initial attack on his health. He returned to England and his health improved.
On his return he was sent to Leicester and worked in the Royal Infirmary. In 1943 he moved to Pendleton, where he served as subprior. He was then assigned to London as bursar. In 1956 he returned to Leicester and his beloved ministry to the Infirmary. He was a devoted chaplain but suffered a stroke which greatly reduced his mobility. His condition deteriorated and he had to spend his last years in a nursing home. He died on the 10 September 1979, aged 71 with 51 years of profession and 47 of priesthood.
fr. Sylvester was a shy and private man. He was not a renowned formal preacher but preached the Gospel by his dedicated priestly service. He was considered a reliable and loving pastor by both his flock and his brothers.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in Peace.
Amen.
