Namasagali College Staff Primary School

Father Damian Grimes was born on June 11, 1931, in Wakefield, England, and pursued a calling to the priesthood with the Mill Hill Missionaries. He studied in England and Holland, taking his Perpetual Oath in 1954 and being ordained a priest in 1955. After further studies in history and education, Damian was appointed to Uganda in 1959, where he dedicated over 30 years as Headmaster of Kamuli College, Namasagali, later renamed ( Namasagali College / Namasagali Collegeand founded Namasagali University and Namasagali College Staff Primary School ) despite the challenges of the Amin regime. His efforts greatly impacted education in Uganda, leading to his recognition with an MBE. After retiring from Uganda in 2003, Damian served in Wales before ill health led him to retire in Liverpool in 2016. He passed away on September 4, 2024, after 70 years of service.
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Dear Lord, as we gather to honor our Father, grant us strength to bear this heavy burden. Though his absence leaves a void, fill it with the warmth of his love and the countless memories we hold dear. May his guidance and unwavering support forever be a part of our family.
Heavenly Father, in this time of sorrow, we celebrate the life of our father. His strength and wisdom were the foundation upon which our family was built. Grant us the comfort of shared memories and the courage to face the days ahead, knowing his spirit lives on within us.
Dear God, as we mourn the loss of our father, we find solace in the incredible man he was. Grant us the wisdom to find comfort in the memories we hold dear and the unwavering love that bound us together. Though our family grieves, may the legacy of his strength and kindness continue to inspire us.
Almighty God, we gather today to honour the life of our father, a source of unwavering support and unwavering love. Grant us the courage to grieve openly and find strength in the love and support we offer one another. Though he is gone, the values he instilled in us and the lessons he taught remain. May his memory be a blessing, forever cherished.
Holy Spirit, we surrender to Your will, even as we grapple with the loss of our father. Fill our family with Your love and grant us the peace that surpasses all understanding. May the laughter and joy we shared with him continue to be a beacon of light, guiding us through this difficult time. We find comfort in knowing he is now a part of something greater and pray for a joyful reunion in Your heavenly kingdom.
The A hearse with pallbearers will transport Father Grimes' body from the UK to Uganda, where he will be laid to rest at Saint Damain Grimes Chapel at Namasagali College / Namasagali University. The event will include a moment of silence and farewell before the repatriation of Father Grimes to Uganda. The Grimes Family, Mill Hill Fathers, and various alumni will be present.
The UK Crown Government ,Ugandan Government, Namasagali College / Namasagali University Alumni,The Fr.Grimes Family and Mill Hill Missionaries HQ and Kyabazinga of Busoga are working closely as well as affiliated colleges of Namilyango College , Makerere University / Department of the Performing Arts and Film , Nkumba University St. Mary's College Kisubi SMACK among others
Mill Hill Fathers on the Holy ground to recieve the Man of God Saint Father Damian Grimes MHM our Saint. May You Rest In Peace
The Namasagali University / Namasagali College / Namasagali College Staff Primary School Chapel is named after FrGrimesDamian as Saint Damian Grimes Chapel as the entire Africa has endorsed it n recognition of the Great Canonized a very virtuous, kind, or patient Saint Damian Grimes we are adding more achieves on the Top level domain to strengthen the legacy and achievements towards Humanity and Namasagali College Staff Primary School / Namasagali College / Namasagali College / Namasagali University and Mill Hill Fathers will continue to grow the work of Fr.Grimes who is now Saint Damian Grimes Chapel working together with Kyabazinga of Busoga
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Mill Hill Missionary thank you and in our hearts for the Glory of God in the Life of Father Grimes Damian Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen. May Christ support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over and our work is done.We hope the Grimes Family,UK Crown Government / UK in Uganda (British High Commission Uganda ) ,Ugandan Government, Namasagali College St. Mary's College Kisubi , Namasagali University , Namasagali College community & Alumni , Parastatal Bodies,International Organizations / Agencies, Entreprenuers,Local Communities and Individual support, The Kyabazinga of Busoga and US Government which has for the past strengthenned Tree Planting Campaign at Namasagali College as well as African,Asian and Western Universities will continue to foster and integrate the programs Father Grimes had endorsed as we pray especially the New Curriculum advocacy globally by Fr.Grimes Damain since 1965 which as become a model for most Universities,Colleges and Primary schools.
It is with regret that we inform you of the death at Abbotsbury Care Home, Southport, England, on Wednesday, 4th September 2024 at 10:30 in the evening, aged 93 years, of
Father Damian Grimes
Mill Hill Missionaries
May he rest in peace
Damian was born on the 11th of June, 1931 in Wakefield, North-East England. His father was John Grimes, a Railway Guard, and his mother was Mary Grimes, nee Parkinson. He was born into a small family with one brother and one sister.
His early years in education were spent in his local primary school, after which he partly completed his Secondary Education at Saint Michael’s College in Leeds. Feeling called to the missionary priesthood with the Mill Hill Missionaries, he completed his Certificate in Secondary Education at our College in Burn Hall near Durham (1947-1949). From there, he progressed onto the study of Philosophy in the Missiehuis in Roosendaal, Holland (1949-1951). Upon completion of his studies there, he continued his preparation for the priesthood by studying Theology at Saint Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, England (1951-1955). As his theological studies drew to completion, Damian took the Perpetual Oath in the Chapel of Saint Joseph’s College on the 5th of May, 1954. In the same Chapel, the following year, he was ordained a priest at the hands of Cardinal Bernard Griffin on the 10th of July, 1955. Recognising his aptitude for studies, Damian’s first appointment was to Further Studies at the University of Glasgow, where he graduated with a BA in History in 1958. To complete his ability to teach, he graduated from Jordanhill College in Glasgow with a Post Graduate Diploma in Education.
In late 1959, Damian was appointed to work in Uganda and was appointed onto the staff of Namilyango College. There he worked for eight years. In 1967 he was appointed Headmaster at Kamuli College, Namasagali, situated in the Diocese of Jinja. It was here that Damian “planted” his heart and strove for over thirty years to maintain the College and raise its standards in so many ways. Even during the difficult years of the Amin Presidency, Damian kept the College going by offering a comprehensive education to its pupils. He encouraged his pupils to excel in education which would prepare them for life. Such pastime as boxing, drama, gymnastics and chess he encouraged enthusiastically and successfully. Many of his former pupils went on to play key roles in building Uganda. Others progressed in Further Education and are making a valuable contribution to life around the world. It was of particular delight to Damian, that many of his former pupils kept in touch with him. In recognition of his outstanding service to the people of Uganda in the field of education, Damian was awarded the MBE.
After a well-earned home leave in 2000, Damian returned for a short time to Kampala Archdiocese in Uganda. By February, 2003 Damian was withdrawn from Uganda and settled into parish ministry close to his ailing sister in Llanrwst in Northern Wales. While ministering in North Wales, Damian was always keen to help with APF promotion, to participate in national assemblies of Mill Hill, and to attend various celebrations at Herbert House, Liverpool. Sadly, after almost thirteen years of faithful service to the community at Llanrwst, ill health forced Damian into retirement in Herbert House, Liverpool, in September 2016, where he settled into retirement and completed publication of his memoirs.
The last few months Damian’s health took a turn for the worse, so much so that in July 2024, he was moved to Abbotsbury Care Home, Southport, to ensure the best care possible for him. Sadly, Damian passed away at half past ten in the evening of Wednesday, 4th September 2024, bringing with him 70 years of loving service as a Mill Hill Missionary. May the Lord whom he served so faithfully welcome him to his heavenly glory. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 NIV.
Information regarding his funeral arrangements will be published later through the Mill Hill Society Website.