Reverend Father Denis Maher 1940 - 2024

Dear Fr. Denis, I met you 19 months ago at St. Paul's Church as a simple, humble and soft spoken priest. You were retired but not tired for God's work. Your zeal for pastoral work was second to none. I tapped some treasures from the wealth of your pastoral wisdom. Your only 'fault' was that you didn't know how to say 'NO' to God's work. Your passing on was like a drama. It is a Hard Truth to believe. But we have consigned it to fate with assurance that all your good works will never go in vain. 

You were loved by the parishioners. Your selfless services to the church extended to all and sundry. Your memories will remain evergreen in St. Paul's Church and environs. We love you, but God loves you most. Requiescat in pace. 

 "Go mbeannaí sé ina shuí ar dheis an Tiarna Agus Go mbreathnódh sé os ár gcionn gach lá ."

Scíth faoi shíocháin (RIP) Father Denis. - If there was ever a person who has earned their eternal rest, it's Father Denis Maher. "May he be seated at the right hand of our Lord and may He watch over us everyday" 

 Our deepest sadness to hear the passing of Father Denis, he will be sadly missed what a beautiful person and a wonderful priest.

Father Denis was the most influential person in my life when it came to my faith journey.  I was brought up as a Protestant, albeit it in a "mixed" family. I felt drawn to the Catholic church after my mum died and was directed to St Paul's by Canon Clinch of the Hidden Gem in Manchester. Without doubt, my welcome and the discussions I had with Father Denis at St Paul's led to me being confirmed as a Catholic two years later. Father Denis became a friend and was a true man of God. He will be greatly missed by me and so many others. 

Father Denis was truly like a part of our family. And our hearts are broken to hear of his passing, he was like a grandfather figure to me and was there for all major events in my life. He was a kind and caring soul and will surely be missed by everyone. I’m grateful for the memories we shared and I’m honoured to have been his alter server for over 10 years while he was parish priest at St Paul’s. R.I.P Father Denis and thank you for being part of not just my life but my family's life as well.

 I was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Father Denis last week. Father Denis came to our parish of Blessington Co. Wicklow in Ireland over the last few years helping out with masses, especially over all of summer 2023 when he was here for a few months. He was a breath of fresh air and dearly loved by all especially the daily mass parishioners. He celebrated daily mass as well as weekend mass in all the churches in the parish. I always felt we were in the presence of a living saint. His devotion to the mass and the way he said the prayers was so spiritual and meaningful, it was always lovely to see him and participate in his masses. He had a great sense of humour and a smile for everyone, and was dearly loved by everyone here. He visited us in September  this year for a week and I had a few words with him then, he was in great form, although he seemed more frail than last year.  We were looking forward to his return this month and couldn’t believe the sad news.  The more I think of him though, the more I realise we shouldn’t be sad, Fr Denis dedicated his whole life to God, at this moment I am certain he is enjoying his reward of eternal life. We were privileged to know him in our lifetime, Gods faithful servant on earth. He made a lasting impression on me, I will never forget him.  May Father Denis rest in eternal peace, a true man of God 

Father Dennis was a lovely man and will be much missed  

My condolences to the family and friends of Father  Denis. I am just after  hearing  of his passing.  I was shocked to read of Father's  passing,  he was a regular celebrant of mass in Crosschapel,  Blessington.   What a lovely, kind, gentle  and spiritual  man,  with a great sense of humour.  May God gently  guide you to heaven,  Rest in Peace.  

I would like to pass our condolences onto the Parish and family of Fr Denis.  He was not only a priest but a family friend dating back some time when he served at St Hughes in Timperley.  He married my father / mother in law, was present at all the baptisms, communions and confirmations of my husband's siblings and also held the mass after the passing of my mother in law - Margaret Quinn.

We visited Fr Denis many times when he left St Hughes and joined St Pauls and 20 years ago had the pleasure of him joining us in Florida to conduct our wedding at St Williams Church in Naples.  He loved it that much he stayed a lot longer than planned and then in future years managed to wangle a busman’s holiday by providing holiday cover to the priest at the Church.  He loved a joke and laugh and was very friendly and as mentioned was not only a priest but a family friend. 

I knew Fr Denis through for over 10 years!! He was a very humble,  quiet priest and my friend through God the Father.  I admired his quality and humbleness. I will never forget him as I have served him during masses when I attended. May his soul rest in peace. 

Fr Denis was a great support to me when I came home with my children from Colombia, and it was the start of a long friendship.  I hope I was some support to him after he told me about what became known as the
‘Shipman case’ , which so affected his health.  He will be so sadly missed 

 Fr Denis, a truly dedicated priest, full of compassion and understanding. I am so grateful for all your guidance and advice, for myself and my family. Your unique way of celebrating Mass was second to none and your Homilies, delivered among the congregation, rather than on the altar, were so very helpful and special.
You deserve the very best heavenly reward. Will miss you so much and never forget you. God bless you.
With grateful thanks for everything you have done for us all.

We are happy and grateful to have met Fr Denis, who was our dear friend and spiritual advisor for over a decade. We enjoyed his warm, frank humour and innate calm. Fr Denis celebrated our marriage and baptism of Eva, our precious IVF daughter and provided us with a great example of spiritual strength and courage for our lives as individuals, a couple and a family. May he rest in peace after a life of service and support to many.  

I was very upset and devastated to hear about the sad death of Father Denis he was a lovely priest and he was a very good priest when he was in charge of St Vincent's Rc Church in Bramhall years ago. My mum Mary and sister Cathy will miss him also and he is at peace now and not suffering and he has gone to a nice place heaven and is with my dad Peter who passed away in 2021 in June.

I will miss Fr Denis very much and he was a good friend to me and my mum Mary and sister Cathy and he will be watching over me from heaven above and he would not want me to be upset. 

All our love and condolences to Father Denis’ family.  On a personal note Father was always present in our family - a force for good we will always remember him with love and fondness.

I am a lector at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena, California.  Our former pastor Monsignor Clement Connolly was a seminary classmate and great friend of Father Denis.   Father Denis used to visit our parish during summer to see the Monsignor and soak up some California sun.  Holy Family parishioners always looked forward to his visit:  He usually started his homilies with a joke and spoke about the change in the church from when he was young.  Instead of a God to be feared he eloquently spoke of a loving God.  Young priests would do well to emulate him for he was truly a man of God.  Father Denis' memory is a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing him.  I am comforted to trust he is now in the warm embrace of our God.

Fr Denis and I were neighbours over many years - Newton after, is only a hop, skip and jump from Hadfield.

Different dioceses - same priesthood. He came to both of my churches and gave inspiring reflections that touched the hearts of the people. He came to supply for me more than once, and we met frequently at 'Intercession for Priests' gatherings in Damascus House and Hinsley Hall. A faithful priest; a dedicated carer for the sick and housebound - and a good pal!

I never got to know Fr. Denis  that much but met him five days to his demise. So many positive remarks have been made about him in the hospital where he served as Chaplain for over a decade. His good sense of humour and dedication to duty are quite remarkable. I'm glad for the few times I was with him at the hospital  and administered the Sacraments to him prior to his journey to our creator. Rest in peace Fr. Denis. May your good work earn you paradise. Amen. 

I consider myself very lucky indeed to have had Fr Denis in my life, he’s had a great influence on my life and I’ve learned so much from him.  He has helped me through difficult times and been a good friend.  We’ve had many laughs over coffee, he was so human and in touch with the world and with people.  He was a truly wonderful man, a legend in his own lifetime and the heart of St Paul’s.  I will never forget him and will always miss him.  I always remember him saying  never be afraid of dying, only be afraid  you never lived.   God Bless Fr. Denis 

 Dear, Father Denis.  You were the greatest priest ever. I remember the days I used to be a alter server at your parish. Your church would always be filled with love and laughter. You did mine & my brothers Holy communion & You helped our family greatly. I have so many fond memories of & with you. When I had my first child I knew who would be the priest to baptise her. I am so saddened to learn of your passing but I know you'll always be with us in our hearts forever. May you rest now in heavenly peace. All our love the O'Reillys

Thank you for your life. You were the HEART and SOUL of St Paul's and the Catholic community of Hyde. I still have on my wall your rules for Happiness and remember your sermon about count your blessings. Hyde was blessed with a great   leader to Christ. May you rest in peace. We will surely all remember you in our prayers. You taught us all to be a true CHRISTIAN  RIP

So very sad to hear this news, Fr Dennis did the service for my mam and dad's funerals, we had a good old chat in the presbytery, as we were born in Dublin, he was the only person who knew where I was talking about when I mentioned my dad took me fishing for winkles at Dolly Mount, said his dad use to drive them along there, a beautiful human priest to relate to, didn’t dress his views up, may he rest in eternal peace in the Lords arms, God Bless You.

 We were saddened as a family to hear of the passing Father Denis. We only had reason to meet with him and experience his wonderful presence whilst grief stricken, following the death of our mother, in March last year. We were experiencing real problems in finding a priest who could officiate for mum here in Wythenshawe. Father Denis came out of his retirement to help us, and his kind, caring and supportive manner was clear for us all to see. We are a big family, mum was 93 when she passed leaving 8 children, many with families of their own, but Father Denis was such a source of God's love that he was a welcome presence for us all. He made the funeral a time of celebration and laughter, which we will never forget. He was a true man of God and one of the best examples of the priesthood I have ever met.

go suífidh sí ar dheis Dé