Contributions to the tribute of The Rev. Allan Raeburn Giles Hawkins

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Friday, August 2, 2024

Father Hawkins was maybe the 4th or 5th priest my family after they decided to convert to catholicism. I know there was father Buckley, father Klavier, and for the life of me the others escape me. But once we came to Saint mary the virgin on Arlington tx. That was our church. I had enjoyed the latin mass at st. Patrick's cathedral but father hawkins brought a new life into the word. He didn't merely read and believe it he lived it. He was so intelligent, witty and endearing. I was 5 years old at the time. And enthralled. I hung on his every word. I didn't have a crush and my doting father didn't not leave an emptiness needing a father figure. This was spiritual genuinely. The Word of the lord always moved me as a child and made me cry and strive to be a good person and be caring forgiving and open hearted. All the churches we visited (save one non catholic branch it has nuns but doesn't believe in popes) all gave a feeling of God works through service and during mass at communion I felt in the presence of God. But in this church specifically during the high mass you felt the presence of God throughout and before mass even began. Pulling up to the parking lot you could feel the Lord with you. I quickly realized even as a small autistic child it was Father Hawkins himself that held that aura isn't the right word. But overwhelming radiating power of God. He was a very humble and human man. But God spoke through him and flowed through him. I'm told there were those that found him stern and some children were even apparently frightened by him. This I do not understand. In my experience he was warm, honest, open, humble and kind. He loved his family, he loved his Parish and above all he very clearly loved God and his faith. I only learned after his passing of his truly inspiring life before the church. But from my young life in his parish from the time we joined in 1992 at age 5 to my parents separation and our moving took us away from st. Mary the virgin in 1999 when I was 11. My nana and uncle still attended Alice Hager and Jon Hager, and my father Kurt Hager during Christmas time. He even gave my brother last rites when he lay dying from oleander poison in the heb hospital in his teens. To this day I credit the power of prayer for saving his life. I can tell you he left a huge impression on my family and instilled faith and values that remain to this day. I had felt him heavily on my heart and mind in what was apparently the week or few weeks before he passed away and attempted to email him and reconnect with his family and my old church. His homilies were beautiful his mass was always done well. He sung not like a singer but with a voice filled with faith and true honor and praise for the Lord our God. He was never to busy to speak with anyone after church and stayed late to make sure we were all attended to. Even to take the questions of small children like myself at the time or listen to the feed back from a 5 year old of the mass and his homily and her Sunday lesson that morning. He was a brilliant man. A wonderful husband and Father and a true example of what a priest is meant to be for his parish. He truly was the Sheppard to his Flock and nyb5 year old self was honored to be called his little lamb (it might only have been once) it was in an easter card. That again hand written easter card to children in his church is not something many priests would have taken the time to do. But it was never a job, he was truly called to serve and evangelize. I am grateful to have known him. I only wish I had been able to introduce him to my own son. I hoped to do so through video's from mass but they are no longer available online to watch. If anyone happens to read this and has any videos I would greatly appreciate to have them shared with me. Elsa.l.haeger@gmail.com

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Sister Edyta posted a condolence

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

We have lost a great man and dedicated priest! Our Church has lost a compassionate and faithful servant of God. Fr. Allan will be missed by many. He often celebrated Mass at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in Grand Prairie, TX. He also came to help as a confessor. Many parishioners came to know him and to love him as truly kind, wise and compassionate "channel" of God's grace. As we grieve his departure, we offer our prayers for the eternal rest the soul of Fr. Allan and the comfort for the family and friends. SistersEdyta, Emmanuela, Marie Kim and Loretta Rose from the Immaculate Conception Convent, Grand Prairie, TX.

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The family of The Rev. Allan Raeburn Giles Hawkins uploaded a photo

Friday, October 6, 2023

The Rev. Allan Raeburn Giles Hawkins

1934 - 2023

Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home & Crematory