COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 22 January 1920, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

NEW SOUTH WALES. His Lordship the Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes, the Right Rev. Dr. Hayden, is leaving his diocese for Rome on April 14. Dr. Hayden has had a strenuous time in visiting the various parishes of his extensive diocese, since he succeeded the late Bishop Dunne. Fellow-passengers will be the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Hobart (Most Rev. Dr. Barry), and the Bishop of Armidale (the Right Rev. Dr. O'Connor). VICTORIA. " DEATH OF A VETERAN PRIEST. It is with much regret that we have to announce • the death of a veteran priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne (the Very Rev. James Hennessy O'Connell, P.P., Carlton), who passed to his reward shortly after 5 p.m. last Sunday, the 4th inst. (says The Advocate of January 10). The deceased priest had been suffering for some months, and his death caused no surprise. His last public appearance was at a social he tendered to those who took part in the bazaar and queen competition in September last. His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix), who presided at that function, expressed pleasure at seeing Father O'Connell present, and the same sentiments were voiced by members of the laity. During his last illness the deceased priest was visited by his Grace the Archbishop and many of the clergy. Father O'Connell was born in Co. Kerry, Ireland, in 1845, and at the time of his death was in the 75th year of his age and the 52nd of his priesthood. He was ordained in All Hallows College, on June 24, 1868, and came to Melbourne in the following November. With him came a pioneer band of Christian Brothers. Father O'Connell spent nearly 52 golden years in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, under three prelatesthe late Archbishop Goold, Archbishop Carr, and Archbishop Mannix. He labored zealously in Castlemaiue, Kyneton, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne), Geelong, and Mansfield. In 1881 he was given charge of St. George's, Carlton, where the fruits of his 38 years' labors can be seen in the fine church, which cost £20,000, boys' and girls' schools, and presbytery. He bolonged to the Daniel O'Connell family, was a brother of Mr. E. O'Connell, of St. Kilda, Dunedin, and was a relative of Sir John Pope Hennessy. He took much interest in hospital work, the Receiving Home, Grattan Street, Carlton, and every charitable movement. The scenes of Father O'Connell's early labors were cast in difficult country, but he was a good horseman, and travelled long, and at times weary, journeys to bring the consolations of religion to those living in remote parts of the country. As -the Catholic population extended, new parishes and missions had necessarily to be formed. Hence, the sag art a/run who came later into the spiritual vineyard had not to travel so far afield, but, on the other hand, he had a larger number of the faithful to minister to. In 1889, Father O'Connell, with the late Dr. Reville, visited Europe. In 1883 he built the presbytery (Carlton), at a cost of £3OOO. In the same year the foundation stone of St. George's Hall was laid, and in 1884 it was. opened. It cost £3OOO. The foundation stono of the new church was laid on June 20. 1807. Father O'Connell celebrated his golden sacerdotal jubilee on June 24, 1918. The occasion was availed of by bishops, priests, and people, far and near, to show their esteem for the venerable priest. High Mass was sung in the Sacred Heart Church, at which his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix) presided. The Bishop of Sandhurst (the Right Rev. Dr. McCarthy) was also present. There was a great gathering of priests, parochial and regular, and a largo congregation. . His Grace the Archbishop, in the course of a fine tribute, said : "Our Holy Father the Pope, even in the midst of his present cares and anxieties, has not been unmindful of you in this the great day of your life, nor unmindful of the great services which you, at this end of the world, have rendered to him and to the Church over which he rules. Over the waters to-day the Holy Father sends to you, on your jubilee day, his heartfelt congratulations and his paternal and abundant blessing." The Church of the Sacred Heart was crowded on Wednesday morning, January 7, and there were over 100 priests, parochial and regular, at the Requiem. The Archbishop's Tribute. . His Grace the Archbishop, speaking with great feeling,

paid a warm tribute to the life work of the late . Father 0 Connell. His Grace said: —I wish most earnestly to ask your prayers .for, the repose of the soul' of Father * O'Connell. This is indeed a remarkable demonstration of the esteem and affection in which he has been held. The friends of his youth are here—for he never lost a friend—and the. friends of later days are also in this church to pay their tribute to his memory. We have come here, not for any worldly motives, not to hold any empty memorial service; the Church invites us here to pray, before the altar where Father O'Connell so often offered the Holy Sacrifice, that God may have mercy upon him now that he is called to render his account. I myself have lost a personal friend by his deatha friend whose friendship I deeply valued. The priests of this archdiocese have lost. a friend whose place in their regard can never be filled,, and tho people of this parish, of this city, and, indeed,, of the whole of this State, have lost one who by years of work and of his own attractive character had won a place in their hearts- that very few could holdone who up to the end devoted himself to God's work and the work of God's people. When a short time ago I sat by his bedside, he was anxious about the people of Carlton, and he asked me whether I did not think that the time had come for him to resign his pastorate and give place to another. He made the suggestion without any hint from me. Perhaps in all the circumstances it was not an unreasonablesuggestion, but I preferred, and I am now glad that I preferred, to let him die as he lived, the pastor of this; parish. He has been here for close upon 40 years, and', it is fitting that where he labored so long he should remain up to the last day the beloved pastor of St. George's parish.. I have no doubt that it is in the same spirit that the public authorities have graciously granted the privilege of allowing his remains to be buried in tho church that he loved so well. We are all grateful for that, and on behalf of his people I desire to make duo acknowledgment of it. Father O'Connell will be missed as a man, as a citizen, and as a priest. As a man he had a charm of his own. There was nothing paltry, petty, or small about him. He was a man of big heart and big ideas. He could not do or think anything unworthy, and so it was that ho occupied a place that most men might be glad to fill. As a citizen he never spared himself. He never refused his time, ability, and energy in the service of any good cause that made its appeal to him. Those who have been associated with him in public affairs are hero to-day to pay their tribute and to acknowledge the help they received from him for many years. But he will be missed most of all as a priest. Father O'Connell never forgot in any circumstances or in any company that he was and above everything else a priest of God,. and. that he owed all his energy to the people whom God meant him to serve. Tie will bo greatly missed by his fellow-priests, for I think I am right in saying that he held a. unique position among' them. Ho owed this position to his striking personality, and his great personal worth. Father O'Connell during all these years was always recognised and acknowledged the loader amongst the priests of the archdiocese. Yes,, they have good cause to regret his departure. There is no priest here to-day, and not one who is absent, who' would not wish to prolong the days of Father O'Connell, and who would not be prepared to grant him that first place amongst the clergy of Melbourne which he has held so long and to which he has done so much credit. This church remains a great monument to his zeal, and other monuments are in this parish and outside of it. They will keep his memory green; but his real monument is' in the hearts and minds of people and priests, for whom and with whom he labored so long. The deceased priestwas a great man, a great citizen, and a worthy priest.. We are assembled here to-day to ask Our Lord Jesus Christ,, through the blood He shed on Calvary, to show him mercy.. We pray that he has now, or very soon will, reap hiseternal reward. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through tho mercy of God, rest in peace. The remains were interred in the Lady Chapel of the Sacred Heart Church, from which the altar had been removed. The scene was most impressive, the church being again crowded. The inscription on the massive coffin read : "Very Rev. James O'Connell, died 4th January, 1920, in the 75th year of his age and the 52nd of his priesthood. Requiescat in pace."