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Doyle, Bernard, 1859-1936, Jesuit brother

  • IE IJA J/1211
  • Person
  • 12 May 1859-25 November 1936

Born: 12 May 1859, Draperstown, County Derry
Entered: 07 December 1885, Richmond, Melbourne, Australia (HIB)
Final Vows: 02 February 1897, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney, Australia
Died: 25 November 1936, Mater Hospital, Sydney, Australia - Australiae Province (ASL)

part of the St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney, Australia community at the time of death

Transcribed HIB to ASL : 05 April 1931

◆ HIB Menologies SJ :
Note from Patrick Muldoon Entry :
Ent at the new Irish Novitiate in Richmond, and it was then moved to Xavier College Kew. He went there with Joseph Brennan and John Newman, Scholastic Novices, and Brother Novices Bernard Doyle and Patrick Kelly.

◆ David Strong SJ “The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit Biography 1848-2015”, 2nd Edition, Halstead Press, Ultimo NSW, Australia, 2017 - ISBN : 9781925043280 :
He was born in Ireland, but entered the Society at Richmond Australia in 1885.

1887-1888 After First Vows he spent a year at Xavier College Kew
1888 He was sent to St Ignatius College Riverview and was to spend the rest of his life there.
He was at various times cook, buyer and storekeeper, but not involved in what was referred to as “domestic duties”. In his latter years he was in charge of the farm and the dairy, and in all his work he was considered efficient and kindly.
Sometime during the 1930s he paid monthly visits to St Michael’s Orphanage, Baulkam Hills, taking bags of potatoes and some trays of mince meat to supplement the poor diet of the orphans. The funds for this food came from the Riverview boarders.

Although Irish, he had emigrated to Australia before he entered the Society. Almost all of his 50 years in the Society were spend at Riverview, where he made a wide circle of friends, not only among boys, Old Boys and parents, but also in the business world of Sydney which his work as buyer for Riverview brought him into close contact with. The East Wing of the College, the organ in the Chapel, and the showers in the Second and Third Division buildings were all paid for by “friends of Brother Doyle”.

His community remembers him especially for his piety, his unfailing charity and affectionate interest in the students.

◆ Our Alma Mater, St Ignatius Riverview, Sydney, Australia, 1935

Golden Jubilee of Brother Bernard Doyle

Golden Jubilees seem to rush upon us. It is not very long since Riverview celebrated its fiftieth birthday. Even the “Alma Mater” is putting a flower in its buttonhole this year. On Sunday, October 6th, Brother Doyle celebrated his fiftieth year as a Jesuit amidst surroundings that have been his home during the greater part of his life.

For the boys it happened to be a Home Sunday. But for all that, they were the first to raise their voices in honour of Brother Doyle's Jubilee, when, as early as 7.15 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel, they sang, as one big choir, the entire High Mass. Father Rector celebrated the Mass, having as his assistants Father Frank Connell (deacon) and Father D O'Connell (sub deacon). Rev J McNamara SJ, was Master of Ceremonies.

To Brother Doyle had been left the choice of what friends he desired to in vite to join the Community at the Jubilee Dinner later in the day. It cannot have been easy for him to compose his list. For the countless Old Boys of Riverview are all his friends. There were about thirty guests, then - old Boys of various generations and some other personal friends of the Jubilarian, who sat down to table with the Community that afternoon.

After the Toast of the Pope and the King, Brother Doyle thanked in a few words those friends of his who had accepted his invitation to be present, and hoped that they would all enjoy their afternoon. Father Rector also thanked in his name and in that of the Community everyone who had come to do honour to Brother Doyle.

Father Gartlan SJ, in proposing the Toast of Brother Doyle, said that from the first day he had met him, he always looked on him as a very shrewd man, But he never suspected him of being shrewd enough to make his speech before his dinner, as he did to-day! He also admired his simplicity in thinking that his early speech would absolve him from making another later on!

He (Father Gartlan) was the first to receive Brother Doyle upon his arrival at Riverview from Melbourne so very many years ago. On that distant day, he considered that he was receiving a simple, alert and inoffensive-looking man, and he saw at once that in the case of Brother Doyle, it was a case of love at first sight between himself and Riverview.

Even in those days, he could see that this was no ordinary man - and that for three reasons .... his activity, his popularity and his regularity. He had been immediately appointed to the control of the supplies and the domestic arrangements of the College. He was soon as well known in Sussex Street as he was in Riverview. In general, he might say that there was scarcely any improvement made in Riverview, right down through those years, in which Brother Doyle did not have an active part. Very many valuable additions to the College, too numerous to mention in detail, came through his direct instrumentality. Even the Orange Groves, which contributed to the predatory instincts of so many generations of Riverview boys, owed their existence to him!

One thing, however, that always stood out in the character of Brother Doyle was his regularity as a Religious and a Jesuit. He was always first to the Chapel in the morning. There too he might be found in the late afternoon and at night, hidden away in some dark silent corner. It was this religious energy that gave him cour age and strength for his other activities outside and for that life-long service of others that had distinguished him so markedly. He wished Brother Doyle many more years of successful work for Riverview and for those to whom the school means so much.

Mr A A Rankin (OR) seconded the toast. He had been at Riverview, he said, even before Brother Doyle whom he regarded as a mere youngster. He wished him many more happy
years of activity in his present sphere of action, and he fully intended to be present at all Brother Doyle's future Jubilees! There are two sorts of popularity, he said: the kind that some seek and never get, and the other kind that others never seek but invariably get. Brother Doyle's popularity was most decidedly in the latter class.

Much against his inclination, but amidst the greatest enthusiasm, Brother Doyle was persuaded to speak again. (Father Gartlan was right after all!) This he did in a few well-chosen words, thanking once more his many friends-Old Boys and others, whether present or absent, for all their kindness to him to-day and in the past. He wished them every happiness and success in whatever walk of life they had chosen, and he was particularly grateful to Father Rector and the Community for their good wishes.

A message of congratulation with an offering of 60 Masses for his intention, was received by Brother Doyle from the Father General of the Society of Jesus, through the Very Rev J Fahy SJ (Mel bourne), Provincial Superior of the Australian Jesuits. Many other telegrams of congratulation had come the previous evening, one that gave Brother Doyle very special pleasure being from the Hon J H Keating and family (Melbourne) of whom he has very kindly memories.

In the evening there was Solemn Benediction, again sung entirely by the boys, and at which the Celebrant was Father C McKillop SJ, with Father Stone SJ (deacon), and Rev L Lachal SJ (sub deacon).

The day will live long in the memory of Brother Doyle. It will not be soon forgotten by the Old Boys and others who were privileged to be present on such a memorable occasion. For Brother Doyle and Riverview are names that go “hand in hand” for a longer period than many of us here now can remember. Indeed those names will never be separated, even when Brother Doyle and all his friends of to-day have passed away.

AD MULTOS ANNOS!

◆ Our Alma Mater, St Ignatius Riverview, Sydney, Australia, 1936

Obituary

Brother Bernard Doyle

All Riverview boys of the past 47 years will be sorry to know of the passing of Brother Doyle who died at the Mater Misericordiae Private Hospital on November 25th, after an active and laborious career.

Entering the Society of Jesus as a lay brother on December 7th, 1885, he was within a week or two of completing 52 years of religious life. He spent his first four years as a Jesuit at Xavier College, Melbourne. Coming to Riverview at the beginning of 1889, he took over the commissariat department and was steward in charge of the indoor employees of the College.

Old Boys will bear witness, as for years and years they have already done, to his efficient and kindly management. In later years he had charge of the farm and the dairy, which he directed with his usual energy. But the brightest memories of him will always be his sterling piety, his kindly ways, his affability, his unfailing charity and affectionate interest in every boy who passed through the school. Individuals and institutions that have experienced the unobtrusive practical charity of Brother Doyle, will specially mourn his loss.

Requiem Mass was celebrated at River view on November 26th by Rev Father Rector, the Chapel being filled to overflow ing, despite the short notice, by the pre sent boys and large numbers of Old Boys of practically every generation. Amongst these latter we noticed the President of the Old Boys' Union (Mr Geoffrey Hughes), Dr H Oxenham, Dr G H McElhone, Dr P M Curtis, Dr C King, Messrs G Oxenham, J W Hayes, J Hayes, C Bryant, J Brett, C Wilkinson, J Downey J Collins, A W M d'Apice, J Coyle, J Coen, J J Kinkead, E H Cox, J Donoghue, B Mc Phee, J Boylan, K Kelly, B P McEvoy, A Dougall, D Hughes, R Dunstan, H Broinowski, K Young and several others.

Among the Clergy present were Rev. Father McGuire, Parish Priest of Lane Cove, Rev Father Paschal OFM, Rev T Gartlan SJ, Rev R O'Mara SJ, Rev P McGrath SJ, Rev J Magan SJ, Rev T A Walsh SJ, Rev A Perrott SJ, Rev R Murphy SJ, Rev A Kelly SJ, Rev Brothers Louis, Fabian and Gerard.

Others present in the Chapel and at the cemetery were three Sisters of Mercy from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, two Sisters of St. Joseph with some of the children from the Orphanage, Gore Hill (for which Brother Doyle always had a strong affection), Mr Harry Thomas, Councillor Marsh (Mayor of Lane Cove), Mr and Mrs King and family, Miss Lee, Mr E S McDermott, LDS, Messrs Dallas, Lambert, Stanley Warburton (2), Forsyth, Cox.

Father Rector gave a brief address at Mass stressing the outstanding characteristics of Brother Doyle - his devotion to prayer and to work. He spoke too of his life-long interest in Riverview; his work and his prayer were devoted to its welfare, and not a boy passed through the College but became immediately an object of the kindly interest of Brother Doyle, even long years afterwards.

Father Rector also gave the last absolution after Mass and recited the prayers at the graveside at Gore Hill, where all those present joined in the Rosary as a last tribute to one they had learned to know and to respect so wholeheartedly.

Riverview will not seem the same with out this familiar figure who, in the Chapel every morning soon after dawn, might be met during the day on the avenue, in the farm, in the garden - anywhere, and who seemed to us all to be such a permanent institution at Riverview that we shall find it hard to imagine it without him. RIP

Goodwin, Peter, 1815-1905, Jesuit brother

  • IE IJA J/1375
  • Person
  • 24 September 1815-18 December 1905

Born: 24 September 1815, Draperstown, County Derry
Entered: 19 June 1851, Florissant MO, USA - Missouriana Province (MIS)
Final vows: 08 September 1862
Died: 18 December 1905, St Mary’s, KS, USA - Missouriana Province (MIS)

Hegarty, Francis, 1830-1915, Jesuit brother

  • IE IJA J/1437
  • Person
  • 08 December 1830-05 March 1915

Born: 08 December 1830, Draperstown, County Derry
Entered: 23 May 1858, Clongowes Wood College, Naas, Co Kildare
Final Vows: 15 August 1868
Died: 05 March 1915, Clongowes Wood College, Naas, Co Kildare

◆ HIB Menologies SJ :
He worked on the land for many years at Clongowes. He was a very strong man and did great work for the College. During his last years the Provincial dispensed him from all work, and he made up for this with the piety of his life, and incessant visits to the Blessed Sacrament and prayer. He was held in great respect.

It is not well known, but a year after arriving at Clongowes as a Postulant, he went to the Rector and told him he was resolved to return to his home. His stated reason was that since he arrived, not the slightest interest had been taken in his spiritual welfare by any of the community. He might as well be an ordinary farm labourer, he said. He saw no advantage of staying in Clongowes over his old life which had been good and spiritual. The Rector was greatly distressed and found he could not deny what Francis told him. He pleaded with him to remain and promised he would be looked after. All the Priests were working overtime, and none was in charge of the Postulants. Francis had made up his mind however, and the Rector told him he would be most welcome if he ever returned.
He did return after some months, and there he found in Father Bracken, a Postulant Master and Novice Master, and this was a man he cherished all his life with reverence and affection. His second Postulancy was very long and hard - four years. He took the strain and was admitted as a Novice with seven others who had not had so trying a time as himself. He liked to say that all seven along with him remained true to their vocation until death, and he was the last survivor. They were John Coffey, Christopher Freeman, David McEvoy, James Maguire, John Hanly, James Rorke and Patrick Temple.
He filled many offices in his time. At one stage he was House Steward, and I knew he used buy eggs at the gate. Before that he had been a baker, [ ] and what not. He was a man of the most powerful build, though below medium stature. He used to relate as one of his earlier experiences, that he was appointed to act as a kind of “night Prefect”, sleeping in a cubicle near the “scholars”, he was roughly impeded by one of the scholars in his way up the stairs, who were men rather than boys, but who suddenly found themselves, by a well directed use of his massive shoulders, sprawling all over the place and humiliated. They respected him after that for his physical - as they had, no doubt, always respected him for his religious - qualities.
His last years were ones of restful and entirely prayerful preparation for eternity. He was untiring in saying the Rosary and most devout to the Blessed Sacrament.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Brother Francis Hegarty 1830-1915
Br Francis Hegarty was born near Draperstown on December 8th 1830, and he died at the ripe old age of 85 at Clongowes on March 5th 1915. He had the distinction of leaving as a postulant because there was little or no spiritual direction being given to him. This was nobody’s fault as there were very few priests in the community, and each was fully occupied in his own office. He was assured of a welcome if he should return, which he did after an absence of a few months.

On his return he found Fr Bracken installed as Novice Master, a man whom he cherished all his life long with the greatest affection and reverence. His second postulancy was long and very hard, 4 years. However, he was a man of deep spirituality and he stood the strain well.

He was admitted to vows with seven other postulants : Brothers Coffey, Brennan, McEvoy, Maguire, Hanley, James Rorke and Temple, all of whom, like Br Hegarty – the last survivor – persevered until death.

He was remarkable for his physical strength, though below medium height. He used to relate as one of his earlier experiences, that when he was appointed to act as a sort of night prefect, sleeping in a cubicle near the “scholars”, how he was roughly impeded by these scholars in his progress up the stairs, and they were men rather than boys. But, they suddenly found themselves, by a well directed use of his massive shoulders, sprawling all over the place. From then on, they added to a respect for his religious qualities, a healthy respect for his physical prowess.

During his last years he was dispensed from all work by Fr Provincial, but he made up for that by the piety of his life, incessant prayer and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

Henry, William Joseph, 1859-1928, Jesuit priest

  • IE IJA J/704
  • Person
  • 02 April 1859-25 March 1928

Born: 02 April 1859, Cahore, Draperstown, County Derry
Entered: 14 September 1874, Milltown Park, Dublin
Ordained: 1892, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1895, St Francis Xavier, Gardiner St, Dublin
Died: 25 March 1928, Milltown Park, Dublin

Part of the St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly community at the time of death.

by 1877 at Roehampton, London (ANG) studying
by 1879 at Laval, France (FRA) studying
by 1881 at St Aloysius, Jersey, Channel Islands (FRA) studying

◆ HIB Menologies SJ :
His brother was Sir Denis Henry KC (First Lord Chief Justice Northern Ireland having been Attorney General for Ireland, Solicitor General and MP for South Londonderry)

After his Novitiate he studied Philosophy at Jersey and Theology at Milltown, and was Ordained there 1892.
He held the positions of Rector at Belvedere, Mungret and Milltown. He was later Professor of Theology at Milltown.
He was then sent to Gardiner St, and left there to become Rector at Tullabeg. His health began to fail and he died in Dublin 25 March 1928.

◆ Irish Province News
Irish Province News 3rd Year No 3 1928

Obituary :
Fr. William Henry
Fr. William Henry died at Milltown Park on the 25th of last March.

In 1922, when in class with the Juniors at Tullabeg, he got a paralytic stroke and had to he carried to his room. He never completely recovered, and the third attack, early in March, proved fatal. Fr. Henry entered the noviceship at Milltown 14th Sept. 1874. At the end of two years, he went to Roehampton for his juniorate, but after one year he was recalled and sent to complete the juniorate at Tullabeg, then a flourishing College, with Fr. William Delany as its Rector. At this distance of time the move seems a strange one, and to understand it rightly the state of education in Ireland at the time must be taken into account. In our own Colleges the “Ratio” was still followed, but in many places it had fallen into a gentle slumber, and needed a good deal of waking up. Things were not much, if at all, better in the rest of the country. The educational authorities were satisfied with - a little Knowledge, - indeed a very little was quite enough for them. One day in the Summer of 1873, a learned professor of the Catholic University of Ireland paid a visit to Tullabeg. The three higher classes were brought down in turn to meet him, and he examined them in the Latin and Greek lessons they had for that particular day, The boys did not know what it meant, but in a short time many of them received formidable parchments declaring them to be undergraduates of the C. U. I.
To improve matters, preparation for London University Matriculation Exam was commenced in Tullabeg in 1875.
It was to prepare for this exam. that Mr Henry went to Tullabeg. He was accompanied by Mr Guinee, and at the College they met Mr James Murphy. AIl three passed the exam at the end of the year.
1878 found Mr Henry amongst the philosophers at Laval where he remained for two years, and was then, with the rest of the Community, turned out of the house by the French Government on the 30. June 1880.He finished philosophy at Jersey. It would be putting things very mildly to say that Mr Henry was a hard working student. He was positively, cruel to himself. “To-morrow will be a Villa-day” , he once said to a companion, “I shall tire myself well in the morning, we shall start for the country house as late as possible, and have a walk in the evening”. That was the dominant note of his student life. Furthermore, if hard work ever exempted a man from the law of fasting Fr. Henry was that man, Yet he never availed of his privilege. He fasted rigidly, though the food was so different from that in his own country.
Seven years of teaching followed - two at Clongowes, four at Belvedere, during two of which he was Prefect of Studies, and one at Milltown as Superior and Master of Juniors. That he was severe on the boys he had to deal with admits of no doubt. He expected from them, to some extent, the devotion to duty that he mercilessly exacted from himself. That severity
did not proceed from any strain of unkindness in the man's character, but from a stern sense of what be owed to the boys whose training was entrusted to him. Many an event showed that beneath a hard exterior a kindly heart was beating.
In 1888 he began Theology at Louvain, but in the following year the new Theologate was opened at Milltown and he joined it. After Theology he spent another year teaching at Clongowes, then came the Tertianship at Tullabeg. In 1894 he was appointed vice-Rector of Belvedere, and Rector the year following. He held that office until 1900 when he went to Mungret as Rector. After three years he returned to Milltown as vice-Rector, and was succeeded at the end of the second years by Fr. Peter Finlay. At Milltown he was Professor of the short course for four years, of Moral for one, and spent another as Spiritual Father. In 1909 he went to Gardiner St, where he did splendid work, until in 1919 he became Rector once more, this time of Tullabeg. After eight years he returned to Milltown where the final call came on the 25th March, and he went to his reward.
No one would venture to say that simplicity, in the ordinary sense of the word, was the characteristic virtue of his life, but if we accept the definition given by St. Francis de Sales : “so a heart that looks straight to truth, to duty and to God”, we have found the key to the strenuous, holy, self sacrificing life of Fr. William Henry.

Sincere thanks are due to the author of the following appreciation :
He came from that strong northern stock, and from that corner of the north, that gave, I believe, more than one President to America and many a captain of Industry and many a distinguished soldier to other lands.
Willie Henry was only a few months over 15, when he joined at Milltown Park. But even then the native lines of character were well defined. And yet I have heard those that knew him in the noviciate say that not a novice amongst them was readier to see a yoke, poke a bit of fun, or mischievously pull a friend's leg. But still it was a hard headed, solid little man they got amongst them. In meditation books he chose one after some trial, and stuck to it all the way through - Avcneinus. A tough nut. Even in ordinary noviciate duties fellow novices told of a certain maturity in his attitude towards them that one would hardly expect from the youngest novice of them all. This union of stern purpose in time of silence, and of fun at recreation stamped him all through life.
I am afraid I cannot tell much about his career in the Society. The little I have to tell is of a side of him that is not so well known, indeed by some not even suspected - for energy and laborious, unremitting work were the outstanding features of his life. Duty, God's will, that out-topped all with him. What the work was did not so much matter. Was it his duty? He was every bit of him in it. I was perhaps more struck by some other things.
I remember once, when somewhat ailing, I was sent to his house for a rest. How genuinely good and kind he was. He met me on my arrival, brought me to my room, and saw himself that I had everything I needed. And then, afterwards, would come again and again to see how things were getting on, and if he could do anything for me. Before I left the house he
ceased to be Superior, and I could not help writing him a little note, and leaving it on his table, to thank him for his great kindness (It is no harm, is it, to salute gratefully the setting Sun?) He came to my room to acknowledge it - but Adam's apple gave him a lot of trouble, and he turned away to the window, as he said with big gentleness : “It was only yourself would have thought of it.” This was no new revelation of the man to me.
I had heard him over and over again talking about his boys, and I knew how they were in his heart. Indeed I doubt if I ever knew any master fonder of his boys. It was, I think, in '83 he went with the new Rector, Fr. Tom Finlay, to Belvedere. They made records in the Intermediate that year - records that have never since been broken. How keen Mr Henry was about it all. Once a number of scholastics were discussing the prospects, and one seemed to be a bit pessimistic about some of them. “I’ll Bet” said he “that each of you named will get an exhibition if he gets honour marks in your matter”.
It has been said many a time, that the best the Intermediate did for the schools was to start and foster a spirit of hard work. Mr Henry certainly did his part in that matter - and many a boy owed his after success to that same spirit of work he acquired under him in Belvedere or Clongowes. He was strong, somewhat dour, as I have said, with a voice of thunder that frightened youngsters sometimes, still his youngsters ran to him and gathered round him as he relaxed after school, and twitted them on their prospects of success.
In the closing years he was Superior at Tullabeg and there God's finger touched him - partial paralysis. During these trying years what sweetness and gentleness he showed to all. He kept pulling away at the work as if nothing much were wrong. The Tertian Fathers spoke keenly appreciative things of his head and heart, He was an even and understanding
Superior, eminently sane and manly. As for the two ailing saints who pray and suffer for us all, (two faithful old laundry maids). They never tire telling of his goodness to them. It wasn't merely that he visited them regularly, but he took infinite pains to read up things that would interest them and so distract them from their sufferings.
I have heard there was a strange little scene the night before he left Tullabeg for Milltown Park. The novices had given an excellent concert, and it was well through before the word went round amongst them that their old Rector was going away in the morning. The last item of the concert over, there was something like a rush for him, and forty pairs of hands wanted to take and press his. And many a young face just looked as they felt. They were very fond of him. He was utterly unprepared for it. lt was too much for him. But he was too manly and too pleased to attempt to hide how he felt. Well might he feel affectionate praise like that - praise beyond suspicion from the very little ones of the Province. Genuine it was, spontaneous, simple. You see they have still all that is best and most delightful in boys, and a great deal more that boys never have.
It was the same in the last months at Milltown Park. Every letter from it that mentioned his name - and all did that I saw, told of how he had won home to the hearts of all of them.
God rest you - good, brave, toil worn soldier of Christ.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Father William Henry SJ 1859-1928
Many priests of the Irish Provice who did their noviceship at Tullabeg will remember the formidible yet kindly face of the Rector Fr William Henry. They can still picture him on his Rector’s walk with a group of novices around him, “Stick to your meditation and you’ll never leave the Society”, was his constant advice to us. It is related of him that in his early years he went through various meditation manuals, and finally selected one to which he was faithful for the rest of his life – Avecannius.

Born in Draperstown County Derry, on April 2nd 1859, he entered the Society in 1874. As a Jesuit he held many offices, b Rector in turn of Belvedere, Mungret and Tullabeg. It was as prefect of Studies at Belvedere in 1883 that he made his name. With Fr Tom Finlay as his Rector, he achieved results in the examinations at the end of the year, which have never been excelled before or after. He had a name for severity, perpetuated in some books written about Belvedere, but nobody could ever accuse him of being unjust. In fact, in the words of a biographer of his “I doubt if I knew any master fonder of boys, and certainly the boys showed their affection for him, as they used to run to him and gather round him in the yard after school”.

His name will always come up for discussion whenever ghost stories are on the round, for he is supposed to have laid a ghost in Mungret. A priest was seen at midnight at the graveyard on the Black Walk. Fr Henry is supposed to have gone to meet him. It is said that on the following morning, Fr Henry said a Requiem Mass, though this was forbidden by the rubrics of the day. Anyhow, the ghost never walked again. The only comment Fr Henry was every heard to make was “Fathers, be careful about your stipends for Masses”.

◆ The Mungret Annual, 1928

Obituary

Father William Henry SJ

We regret to have to announce the death of Fr William Henry. To many “generations” of our Past his name will have no significence: but those of them who have passed forty will recall that he was Rector at Mungret from 1900 to 1903. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1874 and after the usual training in the Colleges and having finished his studies, at home and abroad he was in France studying Philosophy in 1880 when the Jesuits were expelled from that country - he was ordained priest in 1891. Three years later he was appointed Rector of Belvedere College, a position he held until 1900, when he became Rector of Mungret. In 1903 he was made Vice-Rector of Milltown Park and at the end of a few years was named a professor of Theology. In 1909 he was attached to St Francis Xavier's Church , Upper Gardiner St, where he worked until 1919 when he was appointed Rector of Tullabeg. He had retired from that office only a few months and was living at Milltown Park, when the last change came. He died this year on the feast of the Annunciation.

The fact that so much of his life was spent in command shows what was thought of his character and abilities, his judgment and firmness. No one who ever knew him had any doubt about his firmness : some would give that quality another name - especially the boys he taught at Tullabeg and Clongowes and Belvedere and Mungret. He could be called a stern man, - he has been so called - but he was certainly a just man. His sternness came partly from his temperament, but also in a great measure from his strong sense of duty and justice. And it was true that no one ever worked harder for his boys or took a deeper interest in them. But behind that granite exterior and that great voice, lay a tenderness of heart which few suspected, but which on rare occasions betrayed itself at some expression of gratitude or little gesture of appreciation and affection. It was certainly that side of his character, along with his cheerful patience in suffering, which manifested itself more and more in his last years at Tuilabeg, in his dealings with Tertians, and Juniors and novices. Requiescat in Pace.