UNITED IN LOVE
November 6, 2025
This being the month of the Holy Souls, I find myself thinking back to the many friends, family and acquaintances who have left this earth in recent years.
One such person is a man named Montaz who died a couple of years ago. I met Montaz at a weekly prayer group in support of the Cenacolo Community founded by Sister Elvira.
The prayer group gathered every Friday evening at an inner city church. After the meeting the parish priest would invite us into his house attached to the church for simple refreshments: tea, coffee, biscuits and sometimes cake.
And that’s where I first set eyes on Montaz, not during prayers but afterwards. He sat beside me, introduced himself and explained he was there to collect his mother and bring her back home.
His mother was an Irishwoman, a Catholic, but Montaz was a British-born Muslim. He had been raised in the Muslim faith by his father who was now deceased.
For a moment I was confused when he told me this. I could only come to one conclusion. Catholic mother loves Muslim son; Muslim son loves Catholic mother.
Bridget would often travel to Medjugorje on pilgrimage, accompanied by Montaz on all occasions. Even now I can still picture him walking with Bridget down the main Street to St James church, proudly sporting his West Ham United football shirt.
After his mother died Montaz continued to go to Medjugorje. One day he told me was receiving instruction in the Catholic faith. Eventually he made the decision to be baptised.
I later found out that Montaz actually made his First Confession at Medjugorje!
The last time we were in Medjugorje together Montaz spoke about his conversion, and then added with a smile… “but I would still like to go on Hajj to Mecca – just to throw stones at Satan!
RIP Montaz
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Message of Our Lady given at Medjugorje in 1984
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“Those who are not Catholics, are no less creatures made in the image of God, and destined to rejoin someday, the House of the Father. Salvation is available to everyone, without exception. Only those who refuse God deliberately are condemned. To him who has been given very little, little will be asked for. To whomever has been given much, very much will be required. It is God alone, in His infinite justice, Who determines the degree of responsibility and pronounces judgment.”