The popular TV personality joined a family of friends for the Catholic service at the city’s St Michael’s Church – the same church where he married his wife Ali Astall – ahead of his burial in the North East on Friday morning.
Dermott Donnelly, a respected Catholic priest, died of a suspected bleed on the brain on July 8 after being treated at North Durham Hospital after collapsing at his parish in Newcastle.
The Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent presenter, Dec, 46, later announced the news of his death on social media, writing: “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my beloved brother Fr Dermott, @TweeterPriest, sadly died this afternoon.
“We are all beyond devastated. Thank you for your messages of support and encouragement, we appreciate it.”
Tough job: Declan Donnelly served as pallbearer on Thursday afternoon as Mass was celebrated before his older brother Dermott’s funeral in Newcastle
The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, where Dermot served at St. Jospeh in County Durham, had previously confirmed the news of his death in a short message.
A statement from the diocese said: “It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly, who died peacefully this afternoon in hospital.
“This was a big shock to all of us. Please pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, especially his mother, in your prayers at this difficult time.’
A spokesman for Declan said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly, who passed away peacefully this afternoon in hospital surrounded by his family and close friends.
“We ask for the utmost privacy for the Donnelly family at this difficult time.”
Declan Donnelly’s older brother Dermott Donnelly has died of a suspected brain haemorrhage, friends have said
Somber day: The presenter looked to the sky as he joined friends and family for a Catholic service at the city’s St Michael’s Church ahead of his burial in the North East on Friday morning
Farewell: A mournful December looked on as loved ones of beloved priest gathered for service in Newcastle hometown
Devastated: Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent presenter Dec broke the news of his brother’s death on social media in July
Last journey: Presenter watched his brother’s coffin being removed by hearse ahead of Thursday’s service
Attending the service on Thursday, Dec fought back tears as his brother’s coffin was removed from the back of a hearse before taking its place under its upper right corner and being carried into the church.
Surrounded by a gathering of friends and family, the presenter – wearing a traditional black suit – was seen clasping his hands in prayer as he paid his respects.
St Michael’s serves as the Donnelly family church and was chosen by Dec and his wife Ali – who did not appear at Thursday’s service – as their wedding venue in 2015.
The ceremony was officiated by Dermott and was attended by a select group of family, friends and celebrities – including December presenter Ant McPartlin.
Dermot was a regular guest on his brother’s traditional London-based shows, with the presenter often traveling to the North East to attend Mass and visit the youth programs that have been a labor of love for the priest since the 1990s.
Speaking in 2015, the priest admitted that his association with the household name Dec helped him bridge the generation gap with young parishioners.
He said: “I don’t advertise being Dec’s brother but the kids always seem to know. It bridges the gap between me and them.
Hard: Grieving family member looked on as they prepared to move Dermot’s coffin
Move: Surrounded by a gathering of friends and family, Dec was seen clasping his hands in prayer as he paid tribute
Devastated: The presenter crossed his arms and closed his eyes before the service in Newcastle on Thursday
Heartbreaking: Dermott’s service will be followed by a funeral in the city on Friday, which will also be attended by Dec
Respects: The presenter wore a traditional black suit for the service. in St. Michaels – the church that also served as his wedding venue
Dermot began his career as a curate in Chester-le-Street until, two years later, he was asked by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to set up a youth program aimed at bringing disadvantaged young people into the Catholic Church.
He turned the Youth Ministry Group into a thriving concern and in 2010 started the World Youth Center in a former holiday camp in County Durham.
Over a period of 30 years he continued to raise money for youth ministry, build the Emmaus Youth Village and develop youth leaders around the world.
As recently as April, he visited outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, where he joined religious leaders, including His Excellency the Papal Nuncio and the Most Reverend Cardinal and members of the Ukrainian church hierarchy in the UK to pray for peace in the war-torn Ukraine.
He said at the time: “It was a real privilege to join Christian leaders from many Downing Street churches and stand together in prayer, the silence was so profound.
“It was a moment when the power of vulnerability met the vulnerability of power. The best weapon we had was prayer.’
Farewell: December helped move his brother to the family church where he was baptized and later married his wife Ali Astall, a service his brother officiated
Tribute: A funeral program carried a photo of the popular priest above the message “called to live a life of meaning”
Tragic: Dec looked down as he carried the coffin into their family church on Monday
Following his hospitalisation, a statement from Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes read: “Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital.
“Tomorrow afternoon between 6pm-7pm. there will be a period of time before the Blessed Sacrament so that we can come together as a community at St. Joseph’s Church to pray for Father Dermot’s well-being.
“Please be respectful to Father Dermott and his family at this difficult time, we will update you as soon as we have the most up-to-date information verified by the Diocese.”
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Robert Byrne said he would be “greatly missed in the diocese for his outstanding work with young people, both diocesanly and nationally”.
He added: “He was a good and faithful priest.”
The official launch of the Youth Village in Allensford which Fr Donnelly helped run was working when he developed a headache. Pictured (L-R): Bishop Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, Bishop Seamus Cunningham, Father Dermott Donnelly, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who were both guests of honor at the launch in 2010
His brother Declan Donnelly died aged 55 after being rushed to hospital. Pictured: Ant and Dec with Dec’s brother Dermott (centre)
The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has confirmed the news that Father Dermott Donnelly died peacefully in hospital on July 8
Pictured in 2014 attending the funeral of Newcastle United fan Liam Sweeney who was killed on doomed flight MH17
Dermot was initially described as “seriously ill”, with his congregation asking to pray for him following his hospitalization (pictured left, with Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle)
As recently as April he visited outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, where he prayed for peace in war-torn Ukraine
Donnelly had started out as a curate in Chester-le-Street until, two years later, he was asked by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to set up a youth programme.
Speaking in 2015, Donnelly admitted that his connection to the household name Dec (pictured) helped him bridge the generation gap with young parishioners
Dec has previously spoken about his close relationship with his brother (pictured together in 1995)
Dec is one of seven children and grew up on Newcastle’s Cruddas Park estate with brothers Martin, Eamonn and Dermot and sisters Camelia, Patricia and Moira.
Despite his massive success, he once admitted that he considered his own career in the church before quickly realizing it wasn’t for him.
He recalled: “Growing up was like The Waltons but in Newcastle. We all lived in a council house in Cruddas Park in the West End. The house had three bedrooms.
“You don’t have to be a maths genius to know that three bedrooms and nine people equals a bit of pressure.
“The four boys were in two sets of bunks in one room, the three girls were in another and my mum and dad had the third room.
“My mum and dad, Anne and Alphonsus, came to Newcastle from Ireland in 1958.
“You often find the Donnelly clan at the Tyneside Irish Center on a Saturday night and that’s where I had my first performing experiences.”
He added: “Later my brother Dermott trained to be a priest. When I was about 14, I briefly considered following in his footsteps.
“Then one day I got the bus home from school and it was full of girls from the local girls’ school, Sacred Heart. I knew immediately and then that the priesthood was not for me.’
Over a 30-year period, Donnelly raised money for youth ministry, building the Emmaus Youth Village and developing youth leaders around the world
In 2015 he officiated at his famous brother’s wedding to Ali Astall in Newcastle in a star-studded ceremony
The millionaire presenter, a mainstay at ITV, managed to buy his mother a £600,000 house in the posh Darras Hall area of Ponteland, near Newcastle, where neighbors include former England football captain Alan Shearer.
While Dec considered a career in the church, his older brother…
