Obituary Notice
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Fr. ADRIAN Convery (1884-1959) OBITUARY ~ FATHER ADRIAN (CONVERY) OF THE VIL DOLOURS. The death of Fr. Adrian of the VII Dolours on the morning of Sunday, 15th November, 1959 came as a great shock to the Religious of St. Patrick's Province, It was lnowm, of course, that he had been in a rather indifferent state of health over a period of two years; but even the Doctor did not regard his condition as in any way serious. It was felt that the surgical operation which he underwent on Wednesday, 11th November, would improve his general state of health, but it was far from the mind of anyone that his death would so shortly follow. Such was God's Holy Will, and while we accept it with resignation, we mourn the passing of a Passionist who laboured sincerely and singlemindedly for the spiritual and material well-being of our Congregations Fr. Adrian, who was known in secular life as Patrick Convery, was born on July 30th, 1884 at Maghera, Co. Derry. The district and surroundings in which his boyhood and ‘early manhood were spent have a rich Catholic tradition and an enviable record of giving good and saintly priests to God's Church. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Fr. Adrian was ever & man of deep faith and solid piety. As a young man he became apprenticed to a reputable firm of Wine & Spirit Merchants at Sydenham, near Belfast. The Church of his choice in that city was that of the Passionist Fathers at Holy Cross, Ardoyne, and one of the Fathers there became his spiritual adviser, Gradually he began to feel attracted towards the Religious life and, after earnest prayer and mature counsel, he entered the Passionist Novitiate at St. Gabriel's Retreat, Enniskillen, where he made his Religious Profession on Dece 23rd, 1910. Having pursued the usual course of Philosophical and Theological Studies he was raised to the Sacred Priesthood
on June 17th, 1917, at All Hallows College, Dublin, His early business training provided him with a flair for administration, while his sterling spiritual qualities marked him as one who could lead others along the path of perfection. These characteristics were duly noted by his Superiors and during the thirty years succeeding his Ordination he held many responsible positions in the Congragation, including Director of Students, Vice-Master, and later, Master of Novices. In the early years of his Priesthood he conducted many Missions and Retreats throughout Ireland and Great Britain and to these he brought that zeal which was born of his earnest desire to do thoroughly any work that was God!s work. His first Rectorship was that of St. Paul'ts Retreat,Ilkley, Yorkshire, before the division of the anglo- Hibernian Province in 1927, Later he held the position of Rector of St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus (1929-1935 and 1941-1947). During the interval between these terms of Rectorship he was Provincial of St. Patrick's Province (1935 - 1941), The years of World War II (1939-1945) were difficult ones for anyone holding administrative office, but Father Adrian proved equal to the task and weathered the storm with equanimity. During his first term of Rectorship in Mount Argus (1930) the much~admired Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected, He personally supervised the work, and the close resemblance which the Grotto bears to the far-famed Shrine at Massabielle is due to his thorough and pains-taking planning. As is well known, the crowning point of his achievements, in the material sphere, was the undertaking
of the completion of the Church at Mount Argus, and the erection of the new wing to house the increasing number of students. The initiation of a task of such pr oportions, at a time when the ugly threat of Global War overhung the world, called for a great spirit of Faith, and that, Father adrian possessed in abundance. The memory of him will live long amongst his brethern both in St. Patrick's Province and in St. Josephts Province, while his unremitting devotion to the welfare of the Congregation will ever be an inspiration to future generations of Passionists, The Obsequies took place on Tuesday, November 17th, and very many friends, clerical and lay, as well as a large number of Passionists from both Provinces, came to pay their last respects. f yiit we Thessalonians read at the Mass on the morning of Father adrian's Le net 2 of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the death, the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, are singularly apt and fitly express our sentiments: "We give thanks to God always for you, making a remenbrance of you in our prayers without ceasing, being mindful of the work of your faith and laboub and charity, and of the enduring of the hope of Our Lord Jesus Christ before God and Our Father", (I Thess. I, 2-3) fo St. Paul's Retreat, Vv / Mount Argus, - / A / y, Dublin, | af ho ho poe or QE { = . RECTOR. wan Gt, é :
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.