A MODERN IRISH APOSTLE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 18 September 1885, Page 9

A MODERN IRISH APOSTLE.

Nbablt 40 years ago there went to his reward a man of apostolic will and work whose memory will long be revered throughout the Catholic world. In his short life of 38 years, he did a century's work, by founding on a sure basis the Missionary College of All Hallows, Dublin, — the largest foreign missionary college in the world. Through the spirit with which be inspired his associates, and which he left as an inexhaustible heritage to his successors, he still lives and works, and reaps splendid harvests of souls in every part of the globe,

John Hand was born near Oldcastle, County Meat h, in August, 1807. From early childhood he felt drawn to serve God and his countrymen in the priestly state. Through much labour and privation be accomplished his desire. The son of a peasant farmer, of tbe class which, since the beginning of tbe century, has been crowding the emigrant ships, he realized the needs and the risks of his countrymen, scattered in America, Australia, India ; — and lost in tens of thousands to the Faith for want of priests.

His life work, therefore, he resolved should be the establishment of a missionary centre whence priests should be supplied to accompany or follow Irish emigrants in their journeyings from Ireland.

He aimed not at adding to an already long list another religious Order. A mission like his must be carried on by a body of secular priests, free of monastic vows, but devoted to the spreading of Christ's kingdom with a disinterestedness Dot to be exceeded by the members of any ©rder. In the college he projected, president and professors should terve without salary ; be lodged , clothed, fed and recreated like their students ; all being provided for, simply but decently, by the free-will offerings of their countrymen.

Father Hand believed that the spiritual wants of a people are, as a rule, best cared for by priests of their own nationality. The priests trained within bis college, must be prepared at shortest notice to be the answer to the demand of any bishop in any part of the world, for assistants on the Irish Mission.

At the outset, Father Hand found but one friend and ally among the Irish episcopate — the Most Rev. Dr. Murray, of Dublin. Strong in his approbation, however, he went to France and Italy to study the methods of the most celebrated ecclesiastical training schools^ He adopted the Sulpician system, modified lo suit his own nationality * and then brought the plan of his work to Rome for the approval of the Father of the Faithful. Pope Gregory XV], heartily commended the young missionary's magnificent project, but enquire! whither he looked for the temporal resources indispensable to the work. " Holy Father," answered Father Hand, " I have these resources in the traditional charity of my country towards the propagation of the Faith."

On his return from Rome, through the influence of his devoted iriend, Daniel O'Connell, then (1842) Lord Mayor of Dublin, he procured the Drumcondra House and lands ; and there, on All Saints' Day, the same year, opened his college. The Rev. Fr. Clarke and the Rev. Dr. Woodlock, now Bishop of Ardagti, County Longford, were his associate professors.

Bcarcely was the opening of All Hallows announced than Father Hand was assailed with letters from bishops in Scotland, North Wales, the United States, India and Australia, setting forth the spiritual destitution of their iespective missions and imploring him for priests. In answer to these appeals, be apportioned the disciples of his first year's presidency as lollops : — Six to Scotland ; five to the United States ; three to British Guiana ; three to Trinidad ; two to Calcutta ; one to Agra, India ; one to the Cape of Good Hope, and two to New South Wales.

Father Hand presided not quite four years over All Hallows' College. He died May 20, 1846, i:i the 39th year of his age and the 11th of his priesthood. Tbe secret of his success — it is the secret of all success — was his devotion to his vocation and his well-exercised capacity for hard work.

Since the foundation of All Hallows, 43 years ago. it has swelled the missionary force of the Church with 1,200 thoroughly trained priests.— Pilot.