The Late Father Croke, Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 23 July 1903, Page 29

The Late Father Croke, Auckland

The sad news has reached us of the death of the Rev. William J. Croke, of Auckland, v/ho died in Philadelphia on June 8, whilst on his way to visit his (relatives in Ireland. An esteemed Philadelphia correspondent, writing to us some days before the sad event, said : —

The numerous readers of your valuable paper, especially those in Auckland, will be sorry to learn that the Rev. Father Croke, of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, has arrived in this city in a most exhausted, in fact a dying state. It is the common opinion of all the doctors here that his recovery is hopeless. He is receiving the very best of care from the good Sisters of St. »Vincent de Paul in St. Joseph's Hospital. His Lordship Bishop Prendergast and several of the clergy of Philadelphia have visited him, especially may be mentioned the Rev. Father Keegan, formerly parish priest of Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, but at present a distinguished member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost. Father Keegan's frequent visits do much to cheer and comfort the poor dying priest, who is here in a strange country without an acquaintance, or, we may even say, a friend, except those whom God in His mercy has called around his' bedside in the persons of his confreres and the good Sisters.

Our valued contemporary ' The Catholic Standard and Times,' of June 13, gives, the following particulars of the demise and burial of Father Croke :—Philadelphia's title of ' City of Brotherly Love ' never seemed more fitting or possessed of a higher and holie* significance than when viewed in the light o! the sad, pathetic circumstances attending the death and burial of a young Irish priest during the past few days. In the last stages of consumption, contracted during six years' labor on the missions of the diocese of Auckland, New Zealand, Rev. William J. Croke, started on a lonjg journey tothis home in Ireland. He hoped and prayed that he might live to meet his family, especially his aged mother, to whom he was deeply attached. His strength almost spent, he reached Philadelphia, only to learn that no vessel would sail for several days. Worry over the delay hastened his collapbe, and he died on Monday last at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was 32 years old.

His remains were taken from the hospital to St. John the Evangelist's rectory, the pastor, Rev. Nevin F. Fisher, having become deeply interested in the young priest after visiting him at the Hotel Walton. The body lay in state on Wednesday evening, a guard of honor from the parish societies remaining beside the casket throughout the night. On Thursday morning the funeral services were held in the p.resence of a congregation that filled the church. At least .'(I) priests filled seats in the sanctuary and in the pew s nearby. The Divine Office was chanted, Rev. John J Toomey, of the Immaculate Conception, and Rev William V McLoughlin, of St. Veronica's, being antipiinuanans Right Rev. Bishop Prendergast presided. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Father Fisher. Re\ Daniel I McGlinchey, of St Patrick's, was deacon; Rev Robert J. Thompson, of St. John the Evangelist's, sub-deacon , and Rev. John J. Wheeler, of the same chinch, master of ceremonies.

The Ri^ht Rev Bishop performed the absolution of ■<hp body and preached the sermon He feelingly depicted the young priest's ardor and 7eal in leaving his native land for the missions in a distant country ; his labors resulting in the contraction of a fatal disease ; his anxiety and heroic struggle to reach his home before death vonld o\ertalc him, in order that he might pass away with Ins family around him. But God willed otherwise, and though stricken down, ' a stranger in a strange land,' every kindness and attention had been shown to him All that medical science could do to prolong his life or alleviate his sufferings had been done, and now that he had passed away, every honor was bestowed upon him by those who a few days before knew him not vcre gathered around his remains and praying for the repose of his soul.

His only relathes in attendance were his cousins, Mrs Fif'/patnck, of Jersey City and Thomas Mcßride, of Pittsburg. These, with Mr Fox, who accompanied him from Pittsburg to Philadelphia ; the Rev. M. A. Keegan, C S Sp., formerly pastor of Waipawa, II 8., New Zealand, and Mr Pohlen, of Chester, at one time a paiishioner of Father Croke at Auckland, were the only other persons present who knew him before he came here.

Interment was made in the p.riests' plot at Holy Cross Cemetery, where the final absolution was given and the clergy chanted ' Benedictus ' The pall-bearers were Fatheis Fisher, Toomey, Thompson, O X Wastl (of Weathcrly), and Henry \V. Baker (of Chester).— R.l. P.