The Late Father Broomfield, Coromandel

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 17, 29 April 1909, Page 657

The Late Father Broomfield, Coromandel

An esteemed correspondent supplies us with the following particulars regarding the late Father Broomiield, whose death was briefly reported in our last issue. The deceased was born in Rosanallis, Queen's County, Ireland, 68 years ago. He went to Preston,' England, at tlie age of fourteen years, joined the Xaverian Brothers, and taught at Manchester. Later on he proceeded to the College of St. Joseph's Foreign Missionary Society, Mill Hill,< London, to study for the priesthood, and was ordained priest by the late' Cardinal Vaughan. His first sphere of missionary labor was in Punjaub, India, but his health failing, lie had to return to England. He came out to Auckland in 1893, since when he was on the^ mission in Taxipo, Rotorua, Thames, and Coromandel. He was in charge of the lastmentioned district at the time of his death. ? The late Father Broomfield was most devoted to his work and .zealous in the discharge of tlie duties of his sacred ministry. He never spared himself, and on many occasions, even iuvlater years, he was known to travel on foot many miles to biSng tlie consolations of religion to members of his .flock. "He was greatly beloved by his people, his death was felt keenly by them, and the very large number of people who attended tlie funeral was an evidence of the high esteem ?in which he was held by all classes. The cause of death was pneximonia. During 'his illness he had the unremitting attention of the Sisters of Mercy, and was visited regularly by the Rev. Father Carran, who administered the last rites of the Church. — R.I.P.