THE LATE FATHER TAYLOR, S.M.

New Zealand Tablet, 4 September 1919, Page 28

THE LATE FATHER TAYLOR, S.M.

, : SOLEMN REQUIEM AT ST. MARY'S, , : - CHRISTCHURCH., . At St. Mary's Church, Manchester Street, Christchurch, on last Thursday morning, a Solemn Requiem Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of the late Father Taylor, Marist Missioner, who died at Townsville, Queensland, about a month ago. There was a large congregation, and his Lordship Bishop Brodie and 14 or 15 priests were present. The Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Dean Regnault, with Father Ardagh as 'deacon and Father Roche subdeacon, Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy being master of ceremonies. Bishop Brodie, on the throne, was attended by Fathers Graham and Cooney. A choir of priests and laymen, under the baton of Mr. W. T. Ward, sang the Gregorian plain chant of the Mass. At the conclusion of the Mass, Mrs. Croiiin, who presided at the organ, played the "Dead March" from "Saul," the congregation standing.

His Lordship Bishop Brodie preached an eloquent and impressive sermon on the powers and privileges of the priesthood, and referred to the manner in which those powers had been carried out by the late Father Taylor."* The last time his Lordship heard Father Taylor preaching was at the close of a mission in St. Mary's Church, and he remembered how earnestly and eloquently that mission priest had entreated the congregation to be always ready to meet the call to the judgment seat of God. Father Taylor had led a model, saintly life, and there was no doubt that he had been ready when his call came. It was a credit to the Marist priests that they had been able to impress so many young men of New Zealand with such a deep sense of piety that they had received from heaven the vocation for priesthood. Father Taylor, preparatory to receiving Holy Orders, had studied in New Zealand under the Marist Fathers, and then in Ireland, France, and the "United States, and came back to his native country to begin his great work, which had won praise wherever he was known. He had labored in various parishes in New Zealand until he joined the staff of the Marist Missioners, and he was subsequently sent to Australia, where he continued his work as a mission priest until he fell a victim to the influenza then scourging the land.

The solemn observances concluded with - the Absolution at the catafalque.