BISHOP'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1941, Page 9

BISHOP'S DEATH

FIJI VICAR APOSTOLIC

RIGHT REV. C. J. NICOLAS

The death at Suva of the Rt. Rev. Charles Joseph Nicolas, S.M., C.8.E.. titular Bishop of Panopolis and Vicar Apostolic of Fiji, is announced by Press Association cablegram. Nearly three years ago Bishop Nicolas celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. He had spent the greater part of his life in Fiji, but was quite well known in New Zealand. - . "

Bishop Nicolas always took a keen interest in New Zealand, and was most hospitable to visitors from this country- He did everything in his power to welcome the New Zealand troops sent to Suva, and opened the local Catholic Club freely to them. He was born in Metz, Lorraine, in 1860, and became a naturalised British subject. His education was received at Montigny, Metz, and Dublin, and he joined the Marist Society in 1862.

Bishop Nicolas was first sent out to New Caledonia in 1888, and then became parish priest of Suva ProCathedral from 1889 to 1910. In the latter year he was appointed Provin* cial of Oceania and visitor of Marist Missions, posts which he held until, in 1918, he was elected titular Bishop of Panopolis and coadjutor of Bishop Vidal. He was consecrated in Sydney in February; 1919, by the Apostolic delegate, Archbishop Cattaneo.

When the Fijian Government was seeking for someone to take control of the leper colony it was about to establish at Makogai, Bishop Nicolas freely offered the services of the missionary Sisters of Mary, and they have remained in charge of the work there ever since. At the time of the jubilee of his ordination two towers were constructed on the Sacred Heart Cathedral by the Roman Catholic community of Suva as a jubilee gift to the bishop.