Born: 18 September 1927, Inchicore, Dublin
Entered: 22 October 1955, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Final vows: 15 August 1966, Sacred Heart Church (Crescent), Limerick
Died: 01 October 2016, Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin

Part of the Milltown Park, Dublin community at the time of death.

Early Education at CBS Inchicore, Dublin; CBS James’ Street, Dublin; Post Office, Islandbridge, Dublin

1957-1959 Emo - Gardener
1959-1961 Milltown Park - Gardener
1961-1971 Crescent - Sacristan
1966 Tullabeg - Tertianship
1971-1985 Loyola - Minister; Bursar; in charge of Maintenance
1985-1990 Tullabeg - Treasurer
1986 Assistant Minister
1990-2010 John Austin - Subminister; Sacristan; Library Bursar in Milltown Park
1991 Cherryfield Lodge - Convalescing
1998 Minister; Treasurer
2000 Minister; Sacristan; Garden
2010-2016 Milltown Park - Helps in the Garden
2012 Prays for the Church and the Society at Cherryfield Lodge

◆ Jesuits in Ireland : https://www.jesuit.ie/news/ordinary-things-love/

Doing ordinary things with love
The life and death of Brother Brendan Hyland SJ was marked with moving tributes from his family and fellow Jesuits at his funeral mass in Milltown Park Chapel on Monday 3 October. Brendan died peacefully at the age of 89, in Cherryfield Lodge. He’d been living with the Jesuit community there for the last four years of his life when severe arthritis curtailed his physical health and affected his mobility, particularly in the last six months of his life.
Brian Grogan SJ, who preached the homily at the funeral mass was a novice with Brendan in 1955. “He was 28 and I was 16 but we had shared backgrounds notably our Christian Brother education and hurling.” Brendan was a keen gardener and fine hurler, and Brian developed a life-long friendship with the man he said was, ‘Like Cassius Clay… He could fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee!”
He had many roles in his Jesuit life, said Brian. He was a minister, treasurer, gardener, sacristan, maintenance man, who eventually ended up invalided. And in all these roles he was always welcoming and gentle. Brian said it was appropriate that he died on the feast day of Thérèse of Lisieux who practiced her ‘little way’, serving God with great love by doing the small things in life really well. “That was Brendan. He was one of God’s little ones, with a great charge given, an Ignatian command – in all things to love and serve. And Brendan did just that.”
Bill Callanan SJ confirmed this in the tribute poem he read at the Mass. It was from the pen of Gerard Manly Hopkins and about another Jesuit brother St Alphonsus Rodriguez, who was a doorkeeper for forty-five years. The theme centred around doing ordinary things with love: “Those years and years by of world without event/ That in Majorca Alfonso watched the door.”(Read full poem below)
Brendan’s family chose hymns concerning gardening and growth and, referring to the famous gospel of the beatitudes that they also chose for the Mass, Brian said: “They chose this gospel outlining the eight forms of happiness because they knew this is what made Brendan tick. When you live as this gospel requests, then you enter a different world, the world of God. If you live like this, then happiness is yours and you radiate blessings to a needy world. Brendan radiated that happiness in his smile.”
And his was a special smile, according to Brian, who quoted the French mystic who once said to God, ‘You gazed on me and You smiled’. And that smile, that gaze of God, conveys infinite love. “Brendan knew that smile for he knew the truth of Pope Francis’ words, ‘When all is said and done we are infinitely loved.’ And Brendan smiled back. Even in his suffering. And he suffered greatly with depression, feeling of uselessness, arthritis but he bore it all patiently… and even with a smile.”
Speculating on Brendan’s new journey, Brian said he has now becoming radiant, like a morning star, “becoming like God because he sees God as God is. Freed from the constraints of space and time, Brendan’s full life, for which this one was only a rehearsal, begins. Now he’s playing in the galaxies in the company of the ever-creative God. And one day we shall join him there.”
In the meantime we have our own lives to live here. With that thought in mind, Brian speculated on what advice Brother Brendan Hyland might have for those present. “He’d say Fr Arrupe was right when he wrote, ‘Nothing is more practical than finding God’. May Brendan help us find God more and more. Amen.”
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

Born: 30 July 1903, Merchant's Quay / Thomas Street, Dublin
Entered: 01 July 1926, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Final Vows: 02 February 1937, Mungret College SJ, Limerick
Died: 09 December 1995, Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Blacksmith before Entry

◆ Irish Province News

Irish Province News 51st Year No 2 1976

Rathfarnham Castle
The happy death of Fr Jerry Hayes took place on Wednesday, 21st January. Though he showed signs of failing for some six weeks and knew that the end was fast approaching, he was in full possession of his mental faculties up to about ten days before he quietly passed away at about 3 pm in the afternoon with Br Keogh’s finger on the ebbing pulse until its last beat. For Br Keogh it was the end of thirty-three years of devoted care and skilful nursing and a patience which never wavered. For Fr Hayes it was happy release from a whole life-time of suffering heroically borne. Br Joe Cleary, who took over with Br Keogh for about the last six years, rendered a service which Fr Hayes himself described as heroic. Despite his sufferings and his physical incapacity, Fr Hayes lived a full life of work and prayer and keen interest in the affairs of the Society and the Church and of the world, and of a very wide circle of intimate friends with whom he maintained regular contact either by correspondence or by timely visits to them in their homes or convents, We have no doubt that the great reward and eternal rest which he has merited will not be long deferred. Likewise, we considered it wise and fitting, that the necessary rest and well deserved reward of their labours should not be long deferred in the case of those who rendered Fr Hayes such long and faithful service. This we are glad to record Brs Keogh and Cleary have. since enjoyed in what Br Keogh has described as a little bit of heaven.
As one may easily imagine, Rathfarnham without Fr Jerry Hayes is even more empty than it was. Yet, we feel that he is still with us and will intercede for us in the many problems which our situation presents both in the present and in the future. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis!

◆ Interfuse

Interfuse No 86 : July 1996

Obituary

Br Edward Keogh (1903-1995)

30th July 1903: Born in Dublin
Early education: CBS James's St.
Before entering the Society he was a Farrier and taught the violin.
1st July 1926: Entered the Society at Tullabeg
26th Nov, 1928: First Vows at Tullabeg
1928 - 1934: Tullabeg, Mechanic and Cellarer
1934 - 1943; Mungret, Supervisor of Domestic Staff
2nd Feb. 1937: Final vows at Mungret
1943 - 1985: Rathfarnham Castle, Infirmarian, Mechanic, Sacristan. He looked after Fr. J. Hayes for some 30 years.
1985 - 1995: Cherryfield Lodge, Assisting the administration, until his final year when he retired.
A selection of his poetry was published privately in the 1990's.
1995: For six months Br. Keogh was unable to walk by himself and had to be wheeled about. His health deteriorated gradually, and for the last six weeks he was confined to bed, but remained alert until the end. He died peacefully on Saturday morning, 9th December 1995.

Brother Keogh was always, I think, a peaceful man. He lived a very eventful life, but it always seemed to proceed serenely. He was born in Merchant's Quay, then moved into Thomas Street where his father had a business, a forge. He received his early education in Basin Lane with the Irish Sisters of Charity whom he loved greatly. Then he went to the Christian Brothers in James Street who communicated to him a love of literature, of reading, and accurate use of words which stayed with him always and developed in his later life into a gift for writing that was poetical and mystical.

But he really was not a man for books. He left school at 15, took a job for a while in Jacobs. Then his father took him into the forge. It was an exciting place, but he did not like it particularly, especially after a horse kicked and broke his wrist. Then he emigrated for a while to Glasgow. He also did some busking around about this time, taking the train to Bray to make some money playing his violin. But the Holy Spirit was not idle all this time. He was sweetly and gently disposing all things.

In 1924 he made the fateful contact with the Jesuits. He did an enclosed retreat in Rathfarnham. There he confided to the Director, Fr. Barrett, I think, that the thought of becoming a religious had crossed his mind. Maybe a Cistercian, perhaps, but he was not sure. Fr. Barrett suggested that he might think of coming to us, of joining the Society. He was delighted with the idea and two years later he entered the Society at Tullabeg.

He used to relate sometimes - with his wry humour and without comment - that his family did not come to the Station to see him off but a very good friend came to wish him goodbye. This friend gave him a present, saying it might be useful to him in Tullabeg - it was a present of a leather pouch - containing two cut-throat razors.

After he took his vows he remained on in Tullabeg and was photographed by Fr. Browne on top of a chimney pot of the Fathers' residence there. He described himself as “a class of man who could put his hand to anything his Superiors asked him to do”, adding the diplomatic caution: “within reason of course”. He was given many different jobs to do, in Tullabeg, Mungret, Clongowes until he was finally assigned to Rathfarnham.

He remained there for 42 years. He was infirmarian to all the Scholastics but his main charge was to care for Fr. Hayes. Fr. Hayes became a cripple just after finishing his tertianship. He was a man who fought his incapacity, strove to overcome his handicaps and in a methodical way to do whatever work he could. He needed everything to be in the right place if he was to function properly. Fr. Hayes was a strong minded man, determined, bearing a heavy cross. Br. Keogh served his needs from dawn to nightfall, waking him in the morning, preparing him for the day, getting him ready for Mass, bringing him his breakfast. The Jesuit Scholastics used to help him and bring Fr. Hayes to meals, to the chapel, out for fresh air in the grounds and back to his room and sometimes, too, we took him out visiting, to Loreto Abbey where his Sister was, up the mountains for a special outing for half the day.

There were times when strains developed between them and Br. Keogh would be told not to come back for the day or maybe even two or three days. He always accepted these difficulties calmly, even with a hint of humour and arranged in the background that all Fr. Hayes' needs were met by somebody else. He would tactfully inform the Scholastic Relief Team how the situation was and advise on the best help they could give Fr. Hayes in the circumstances. But never was there from him a word of criticism or unkindness about his patient or the slightest outburst of self-pity from him. Such was his greatness and patient magnanimity.

The Rathfarnham Years, in my opinion, were the defining years in Br. Keogh's life. Indeed, we could borrow a thought from Manley Hopkins poem on another great Jesuit Brother, St. Alphonsus Rodriquez:

Yet God
Could crowd career with conquest while there went
Those years and years by of world without event
That in Rathfarnham Ned cared for Fr. Hayes

Years of great achievement, years of heroic service and self denial.

After Rathfarnham he came to Cherryfield and lived with us for ten years. They were happy years for him and he used to say that he could not be looked after better anywhere in the world. They were happy years also for those who lived with him, there was always a sense of laughter and fun when he was about and the staff enjoyed caring for him. I never heard him complain about his health. For weeks, I think, we will be recalling incidents and stories of his wit and warmth and humour

He died peacefully on Saturday morning, 9th December. He died with a contented sigh as if to indicate that his work was ended and that he commended his spirit into the hands of God. As we pray for his happiness today, I don't think we are being presumptuous if we feel that he has already received from his Lord the great commendation:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and join in your master's happiness”.  (Mathew, 25,22)

Paul Leonard SJ

Born: 13 October 1929, Stoneybatter, Dublin
Entered: 18 October 1951, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Final Vows: 02 February 1962, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
Died: 21 September 2022, Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin

part of the Milltown Park community at the time of death

FSS
Born : 13th October 1929 Dublin City
Raised : Stoneybatter, Dublin
Early Education at St.James's CBS, Dublin; Denmark Street Technical College, Dublin; Glove Manufacturer
18th October 1951 Entered Society at St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois
21st March 1954 First Vows at St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois
1954-1958 Tullabeg - Cook
1958-1959 Mungret College SJ - In charge of Staff; Assists in Community; Infirmarian
1959-1963 Tullabeg - Cook; Cellarer
1961 Roehampton, UK - Tertianship at Manresa House
2nd February 1962 Final Vows at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
1963-1971 Milltown Park - Assistant Cook
1971-1972 Mungret College SJ - Cook; In charge of Staff
1972-1980 Milltown Park - Assistant Cook
1977 Cook
1980-1981 Jerusalem, Israel - Cook at Pontifical Biblical Institute
1981-1985 Rathfarnham - Cook
1985-2022 Milltown Park - Cook at Cherryfield Lodge
1993 Works at Cherryfield Lodge
1996 Assists in Milltown Community
2011 Assists in Cherryfield Lodge; Assists in Milltown Park Community
2020 Assists in Milltown Park Community
2022 Prays for the Church and Society at Cherryfield Lodge

https://jesuit.ie/news/br-james-mccabe-sj/

Brother James McCabe SJ died peacefully in Cherryfield Lodge nursing home, Dublin on Wednesday 21 September 2022. His funeral mass took place in Gonzaga College Chapel at 11 am on Tuesday 28 September followed by burial in Glasnevin Cemetery.

In his short homily at the funeral Mass which summed up the essence of Br James, fellow Jesuit Brother Tom Phelan said, “Jamesie spent 68 years among us Jesuits as the one who serves.” (Read full homily below.)

James was born in Dublin on 13 October 1929. Raised in Dublin, he was educated at St James’s CBS and trained as a glove manufacturer in Denmark Street Technical College. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at St Mary’s, Emo, Laois in 1951 at 22 years old.

He spent much of his Jesuit life as a cook in Milltown Park, Dublin, where he served Cherryfield Lodge nursing home and the Jesuit Community.

Many Jesuits and friends remember him for putting a smile on their faces with his inimitable sayings and wonderful stories. For example, he once referred to people who travelled to Dublin by train in the morning as ‘computers’ instead of ‘commuters’ – a play of words that was thought to have an element of truth!

He prayed for the Church and the Society of Jesus during his stay at Cherryfield Lodge nursing home. He died aged 92.

A faithful man of service

We are gathered today to say farewell to our brother James McCabe (affectionally known to us Jesuits just as Jamesie) and to give thanks for the gift of his life and for all that he meant to us.

Jamesie was reared in Stoneybatter one of the oldest parts of Dublin. He never lost his Dublin accent, which was music to my ears, being a Dub myself.

In 1954 Jamesie made his vows to serve the Lord in the Society of Jesus as a brother. It was also the year I was born, and little did I know that 22 years later I would join Jamesie in this band of brothers.

Being the youngest brother, Jamesie was always kind and supportive to me. With Jamesie’s passing, there are now 7 brothers left in Ireland. If we were a hedgehog or a bat, we would be a protected species!

Fr. Pedro Arrupe who was General of the Society once said, “The Brothers are the heart of the Society”.
From its beginning, the Society has conceived itself as a universal body. And the heart is an essential part of that body.

GC34 states that a vocation to religious life is distinct from a vocation to the priesthood. In some ways, the religious brother embodies religious life in its essence.

Jamesie, worked in many of our houses for 68 years. For most of these years, he was the cook and in the larger communities, he was also in charge of staff. Jamesie was a gentle soul, kind and welcoming, even if it was in a gruff Dublin accent. “Howya Phelan!”, he would say to me but always with a smile. A short or long conversation with Jamesie would leave me uplifted and in good spirits. What you saw was what you got. Honest and no pretense.

Jamesie lived a simple lifestyle. His possessions were few. He loved his football, music, and newspapers. He always had time for a little chat and a word of encouragement to those he encountered.

I remember one time when I was a patient in Cherryfield, I was attending Mass and it came time to receive communion, Jamesie was distributing communion. Working his way along the row of Jesuits, everything was going fine until he came to an elderly Jesuit who had fallen asleep. Jamesie waited for a few seconds. No sign of him opening his eyes, Jamesie gave the old Jesuit a gentle kick on the foot. The old Jesuit opened his eyes like a rabbit caught in headlights. Jamesie looking down at him just said “Do you want communion or what?”

Many stories and memories have been shared about Jamesie in the last few days and no doubt, more to come over the coming days. But for now, we prepare ourselves to say goodbye to our brother.

The Gospel today speaks about who is the greater Jesus addressed his disciples; “For who is the greater: the one at table or the one who serves. The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves.” Jamesie spent 68 years among us Jesuits as the one who serves.

And in the first reading of Timothy, Paul in the evening of his life says.”As for me, my life is already poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me that day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.”

Jamesie, you have fought the good fight to the end; you have run the race to the finish; you have kept the faith. Now it’s time to be gone. Go in peace my Brother to the Lord whom you have served so well and continue to pray for us all. Farewell Jamesie, till we meet again.