PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 20 June 1918, Page 33

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

An interesting fact was mentioned by the Chancellor of the University at Hobart the other day. It appears "that the Rev. Thomas Kelsh,. the parish priest of Westbury, is the oldest member of the council of the university; and the Hon. Tetley Grant, M.L.C., expressed the wish of the authorities that Father Kelsh would long continue his connection with the institution. Father Kelsh is one of the most cultured priests in the Commonwealth, and his contributions to the press have always been highly appreciated. A conspicuous professor of moral theology, Father Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J., Professor at the Gregorian University, Rome, has died. Born at Naples, the deceased joined the society at the age of 15, and after completing his theological studies lectured at Laval, in France, at Louvain, and finally for the past 25 years in Rome, where he also officiated as theologian' to several congregations. Father John Fahey, D. 5.0., whose name has been a household word in the West for the past three years, returned on Tuesday evening, March 14, from the front, looking none the worse for his trying experiences amid the horrors of this cruel war (says the W.A. Record). In fact, he is the same unaffected and good-natured priest that won the hearts of the people along the south-western line in the days gone by. Writing to Mr. W. M. Murphy, of the Working Men's College, Perth, an officer attached to the Engineers, says: "We have with us a priestone of the most remarkable men in this war. I played a game of billiards with him the other afternoon. He is a quiet, easy-going Irishman, Father Fahey. He has been in the fight from the first, and is known to every Australian soldier, Catholic or otherwise. He has won two distinctions, including the Distinguished Service Order, but he does not wear them. He went all through Gallipoli, and has been only a few months out of the lines in France. lie is known as the fighting priest, because when the boys go over the top to attack the enemy's position he is always with them—in fact, leads them with a walking stick. He has been several times through the enemy's lines, and has saved many men's lives by getting them out of dangerous positions." The death of the Hon. L. F. Heydon, M.L.C., which occurred somewhat suddenly at his residence, "Kentifern," Hunters Hill, Sydney, on May 17, removes one who for nearly 30 years has given noble and generous service to the furtherance of Catholic social and charitable work. Born in Sydney 70 years ago the deceased gentleman was educated at St. Mary's Seminary and the Grammar School. Both his parents were converts to the Catholic faith, and his father, Mr. Jabez K. Heydon, took a keen and practical interest in Catholic journalistic matters. Mr. Heydon was for a time in his youth connected with one of the banking institutions; but later decided to 'study for the law, and eventually built up one of the finest •practices in the city. Keenly interested in political matters, he was returned to the State Parliament for Yass Plains on several occasions, and in 1885 he became Minister for Justice in Sir John Robertson's Ministry. Of late years, however, his political activity had been confined to the Legislative Council, to which he was appointed in 1889. But he will be best remembered by his splendid services to Catholic interests,

to which he ;. had devoted " some. 726 years -' of his life. Many years T ago ' his Eminence the late Cardinal showed his complete confidence in him by appointing his as the. first president of the Westmead 'Orphanage; and when, a little.later, all the conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Societies "" throughout Australasia were united under '. a Superior Council, Mr. Heydon became the first president of that council. - For 20 years he represented Catholic interests on the State Children's Relief Board, -and his services. on that board were of immense value in the safeguarding of the spiritual and material welfare of the Catholic children under its care. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and a son and daughter Mr. J. K. Heydon and Mrs. W. E. Collingridge. R.I.P. . The death of the Most Rev. Edmond Francis Prendergast, D.D., Archbishop of Philadalphia, removes one of the most distinguished of the Prelates which Ireland has given to the Catholic Church in America. The distinguished . Churchman, 1 who was born at Clonmel in the year 1843, came from a family which gave: many members to the service of religion. Three uncles and two brothers were priests, and two of his sisters entered Irish . convents. At: the early age of 16 years the future Archbishop left his home for the States with the purpose of entering a seminary there in order to study for the priesthood. ■', He was a brilliant student, and while not yet 23 years was, iii 1865, ordained to the priesthood for the * diocese of Philadelphia. There he 'worked assiduously in the cause of religion, and was highly esteemed by the Irish population of the great city. As a young priest he showed that he did not • forget his motherland, and the same spirit animated him to the end. In 1874 he was appointed Vicar-General of the diocese, and occupied that responsible position until 1897, when he was called to the still greater but even more responsible office of Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Ryan. When the latter died in 1911 Dr. Prendergast was appointed by the Holy See as his successor. In this high office he displayed the same traits of character that made him beloved by his people, whether he labored in a simple curacy or in the Episcopal chair. Pious and learned, Dr. Prendergast was first of all a Churchman, and his work for the Church in the archdiocese of Philadelphia, one of the largest in the world, will not be readily forgotten. He took a great interest in the social upliftment of the poorer members of his flock, the greater number of whom by birth or ancestry belonged to his own country, and he never forgot his native land, and never failed to extend a helping hand towards her as opportunity offered. The last occasion he visited Ireland was in 1912, the year after his appointment as Archbishop. He then spent a few months there, and visited several place of interest. It is known that he hoped to pay a subsequent visit, but this was not to be. The people of the south will regret the passing away of one who shed lustre on his country, and will join in sympathising with the Catholics of Philadelphia in the great loss" which they have sustained by his death.