THE LATE MONSIGNOR COFFEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18764, 18 January 1923, Page 3

THE LATE MONSIGNOR COFFEY

REQUIEM MASS CELEBRATED. BISHOP WHYTE’S PANEGYRIC. St. Joseph’s Cathedral could not hold Iho crowd that assembled yesterday morning to attend the requiem mass hed for the soul of the Right Rev, Monsignor Coffey, The congregation included many prominent members of the, Roman Catholic Church, including a number from outside Dunedin. The Celebrant of the mass was Bishop Brodio, of Christchurch, and the deacon and sub-deacon weer the. Revs, bather Smyth and Foley respectively, cousins of the deceased. Bishop 33 nyte, who presided at the throne, was assisted by Deans Regnault (Christchurch) and (Christchurch) and O’Donnell (Ashburton). The Rev. Father Buckley (Riverton) was master of ceremonies. There were oyer 30 priests in the sanctuary, and a number of clergymen of other denominations weie among the congregation. The orphan inmates of the South Dunedin Orphanage occupied a prominent position near the catafalque. Ihe cathedral choir and the clergy sang tho parts of the mass impressively. Tho funeral discourse was preached by his Lordship Bishop Whyte, who took for his text Timothy If. chapter xi, verso lb: “Carefully studv to present thyselt approved unto God, a workman that ncedeth not bo ashamed, rightly handling ho word of truth.” Dr Whyte spoke as follovve This exhortation addressed by *-t. -I am to his fellow-worker is frequently addressed to priests, especially at their annual Hetreat. The devoted priest whoso lamented death has brought us together this morning often heard and often read those words and assuredly heard and read them to advantage. Eor ho strove to approve himself unto God, he was a workman worthy of his Master, he preached the word ot truth with earnestness and conviction and with much fruit, and his life was a still more telling sermon than any sermon he preached from the pulpit. . It is no exaggeration to say that no priest on the -New Zealand mission has died amidst more general and sincere manifestations of sorrow. And I take this opportunity, speaking on uohalf of my priests and myself, to thank the bishops and priests of the whole dominion for their messages of sympathy with us on the death of our confrere. As for you. my dear people* you have tne sympathy of us all, for you have lost a friend who knew so well how to rejoice with you in your hours of happiness and console you in your times of sorrow. Not much need be said about Monsign or Coffey's,services to religion in this diocese. His activities have been valuable and varied and are known to all. His onerous work in connection with the orphanage brought him into nearly every Catholic home m the diocese. The ready response made to his appeal for funds was a tribute to his own sterling character as well as to the generosity of our people lbs , laborious collecting tour -was but the beginning of his work for the orphanage, for up to tho day we last saw him his interest m our orphan hovs and girls remained unchminished. Ihe Home for the Poor is another diocesan institution that will miss his genial and welcome visits. The prayers of tho orphans have already ascended like incense to ask God to pardon him his offences, and the need poor at Anderson’s Bay have raised their withered hands in a piteous appeal for mercy upon his soul. As for educational work, several fine buildings in this parish mutely testify to his zeal for Catholic education and _ all it stands for. Nor was his interest in the pupils limited to their school life Their after-career he watched with much ea B® r ' ness and in many instances he held the ladder for them to attain tho high positions to which their talents and exemplary lito entitled them. His desire to .give our talented children the best educational advantages if well-known; and all Cathohcs worthy of the name, recognised with him that those advantages a.re best given to their children in the Catholic schools whether secondary or

success in his difficult undertakings is often spokou of to hisgreuX credit, but fho source of his success is not so often mentioned. It was due, under God’s providence, to his unselfishness, which itself had its origin in strong faith and fervent piety. His zeal for souls also sprang from the same source. And you, my dear people, realising how little thought he ga\e to himself, how ready ho was to think of you how earnest and zealous ho was, aided him' with your money and your service and enabled him to achieve those groat things that we contemplate with pride. In his relations with his brother priests, he was kindness itself. There is not one who cannot recall delicate acts of kindness that he delighted in doing for them. Jhe death agony of more than one priest was sweetened by his presence, and it is worth mentioning here that he all night on more than one occasion to assist priests in their last moments. Wo cannot well begrudge his aged mother the sad comfort of seeing him die; but, if his death had occurred here, his death-bed would have been surrounded by priests who remembered the well-known stories of his chanty. 'lne bishops of New Zealand greatly esteemed our departed friend. Ihe touching messages of sympathy that all, without exception, have sent, showed beyond all doubt that they regard his death as a grievous loss not merely to Dunedin, but to the dominion. Of the loss to myself

personally I cannot trust myself to speak. Some interesting rays of light, however, will be thrown upon his character if I mention a few recent facts. When he wrote congratulating me on my appointment to the See of Dunedin, after promising me a hearty welcome which ho subsequently gave in abundance, he ominously said that ho wished mo as much happiness as a bishop could hope to have. I little thought at the time that the death of a wise counsellor and generous friend like himself was one of the means that Almighty God sometimes employs in order to diminish the happiness of a bishop’s life. You remember how grieved he was at parting with you a year ago. For many years he had put off a well-merited rest ttirough heroic loyalty to duty. Many times, after arranging to leave, he expressed regret at the step h© had taken. It was only the keen longing of his big heart to see his mother that kept him to his arrangement. As showing how great a _ part humility and obedience played in his priestly life, 1 must mention that he said ho

would willingly take up any position to which I might appoint him on his return. In his letters from his old homo ho stated more than once that he would return as soon as I summoned him. “The obedient man shall speak of victory,” says the inspired writer. “Ho is not fitted to command who has not learned to obey,’’ says the Imitation of Christ. 11 is _ obedience had shown his aptitude for ruling, and hence God blessed him and all his undertakings during the period of his administration of the diocese.

in connection with the title conferred on him by the Holy See last, year, the humility of the man appeared in strong light. When onr present apostolic delegate conveyed to him the news that ho had been made Mouaignor, Father Coffey strongly but respectfully demurred and said ho preferred the simple title of “Father.” This objection was overruled, and Father Coffey then asked whether his bishop’s consent, had been given. On being assured of my approval, ho yielded, though reluctantly. In conclusion Bishop Whyte spoke of the impression that Monsignor Coffey’s life had made in the memories of bishops, priests, and tho people generally through the dominion. The recollection /bi his exemplary life would stimulate the priests of the diocese to cultivate the priestly virtues ns thoroughly as ho did.