DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN FOLEY, S.M.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 51, 21 December 1905, Page 5

DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN FOLEY, S.M.

(From our Christchuroh oorrespan/dent.)

During his address on Thursday afternoon at the vacation functions in connection with the Convent High School, his Lordship the Bishop alluded in feeling terms to the condition of the Very Rev. Dean Foley, who at the time, said the Bishop, was gradually sinking, and whose death at any moment might be expected. Combined with their sincere feelings of veneration and affection he would have their deepest sympathy. As he was suffering intensely they would pray that his last moments by Divine Providence would be less painful. On Sunday the sad, though not unexpected, tidings of the Dean's death, which had occurred at 11.45 on the previous night at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Auckland, was received at the episcopal residence. At six o'clock the great bell of the Cathedral was tolled. The Very Rev. Vicar-General made touching allusion to the sad event, and the great loss to the diocese by the death of Dean Foley. At the termination of the evening devotions the Dead March from ' Saul ' was played by the Cathedral organist, Miss Katie Young, the entire congregation being filled with deep soriow.

The Very Rev Dean James Foley, SM , was born at Ballinahinch, County Tipperary, Ireland, in IXI7. lie was primarily educated at Mount, Melleray by the Trappist monks, but studied rhetoric afteiwards at St. Patrick's College, Thiules, and completed his ecclesiastical course at \hc schoiasticate ot the Manst Fathers, Lower Leeson stieet, Dubl'n, where the piesent Archbishop of Wellington Avas Professor of Dogmatic Theology Dean Foley was ordained by Archbishop (then Bishop) Redwood at St. Mary's, Dundalk, in 187(4. Six months after his ordination he remo\ed to Sydney, where he ministered for> six years at St. Patrick's Church. Whilst there his health was so seriously impaired by overwoik that he was recommended to lake a trip Il'omc lie was greatly benefited by the voyage, and came to New Zealand in 18X1, accompanying Archbishop Redwood, who was then returning to Wellington. Father Foley at first took pastoral charge of Blenheim, whence four years later he was transferred to Timaru, he remained until 18H2. In that jrar he was appointed to take charge of the parish of Lincoln and I ittle River where he ministered to the spiritual wants of the people until 189*). He then became attached to the Cathedral parish, and accompanied Bishop Grimes in conducting missions in the vaiious parishes of the diocese on behalf of funds for the completion of the Cathedral a /work to -wlndi he was deeply attached. lid made a missionary \isit to the Chatham Islands, the remotest part of the diocese, and for some time devoted

his energies to the Cathedral building fund. He was eventually, on 1 >the death of Father Fauvel, appointed parish priest of Temuka, but shortly after assuming charge his health, which had been for some time previously in a poor state, showed signs of breaking down. Acting on medical advice, he visited Rotorua and Te Aroha, but with no permanent beneficial result, and for a considerable time latterly has been an inmate of the Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy, where he passed away to his eternal reward. The late Dean Foley ) was most zealous in the discharge of the duties appertaining to his sacred 'office, was beloved by his brother clergy and Catholics generally, and universally popular among all classes. The Rev. John Foley, Taree (N.S.W.) is a brother, Rev. Father Coffey, Adm. St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, is a nephew, and the Very Rev. Dean Smyth (Hastings) is a cousin of the deceased. Two of his nieces arc members of the Dominican Order. Of his other relatives, two sisters survive him, one being the mother "of the Rev. Father Coffey, whilst a brother resides in the old home at Ballinahinch. When the sad news reached Christchurch his Lordship the Bishop had left for Hawarden, and on being communicated with at Cheviot, where he had gone in company with Father Price, he returned to the city immediately. The remains of the late Dean Foley were brought on to Christchurch, where a Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral on Wednesday morning, at which, in addition to the clergy of the diocese of Christchurch, a large number of priests from Wellington and Dunedin assisted. According to the wish of the deceased the interment will be at Temuka, where the remains are to be taken on Thursday morning by the fir s t express On Tuesday morning a Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of Ihc\soul ot the late Dean Foley was celebrated in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin. Rev. Father Liston was celebrant, Rev. Father Delany deacon, Rev. Father I) tO'Ncill subdeaeon, Rev. Father O' Mai ley master of ceremonies There were also in the sanctuary Rev. Father Coffev, Adm , and Rev. Fathers Corcoran and Buckley.— R.l. P.