Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
ron Fr. BERNARDINE Hullen (1878-1959) FATHER BERNARDINE OF ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS. Father Bernardine of st. Paul of the Oross, in the world Joseph Hullen, was born on February 17th 1678, in the little town of Togher, which is situated near the sea dn County Louth, : Ireland. fie came of an old eatebdlinhed farming stoek, reflested in the very strong constitution with which he wag blessed, 4 Drawn by the grase of dod te thy Pasaionist Congregation, - he entered the Novitiate at the early age of 16 yeare, and the following year, on July Slst 1805, was duly professed. From thenceforcvard, he | was called upon by Divine Providence to andure a cross which surely he must have found very heavy et times. Being sant to foiln a class of students in 3t. Paulls Retreat, Mount Apgus, Dublin, despite his dogged | perseveranos, he found his esbudies for the priesthood an almoat impossible burdens and for no less than twentytwo lone years, he was destined to see clase after Glasa of students ordained, while hia own ordination waa perforde deferred. What thin mugt have sost his sensitive nature m can ve imagined rother than deseribed. What a great tribute to his prayers end perseverance it was, when in the ond. riumphing over all aifrioulties, his ordination took placa om the i 29th June 1917. The congratulations of the Commnity, and of his : many friends and woll«wiuhers, were Heartfelt: and sincers! But another battle must bs fought and won, another mountain peak must be scaled, befera Father Bérnardine'a oherished dreana of working for the conversation of England, and spending himself for suuls in this country, gould be realised. He must teckle now bhe study of moral theology ; and reach the high etanderd of knowledges required in this field, vafore. he would be adequately oquipped to work for @oula. Once again his | unflaggine perseverance triumphed over obsteeles which, normal for others, Fatner Bernardine found, like his great patron the Curé dtArs, well nigh insuperables and ab lest, at long long last, he wae read for the priestly work for souls, the preperation for which had cos him such arduous labour, At the divigion of the Provinees in 1987, he chose to remain in the Province of St. Joseph, and was stationed at Harborne, and at Ilkley. ‘The breat work of his life, however, was to be done at our House in Herne Pay, where he worked conscientious iy and fruit~ fully for over thirty yeara among the people of the parish there. The parish {8 9 widespread one, with many an outlet for priostly fervour, and he worked with unobtrusive seal, visiting the eicl?ringing them Holy Communionas in his pastoral work in the pulpit and the confession- al, His strong constitution enabled him to carry on with his good work year after year, to the edification of the pariehioners, who appreciated his efforts to the full. Ula sermons and instruotions | wore simple and direct, but spoken straight from the heart and appeal- ing to all, as was evidenced by the many appreciations of hia preaching which came from the people, Ile was untiring in the Confessional, and Divine Providence alone cab t611 the consolation and pease he brought to the hearts of his mony penitents. One outstanding mark in the religious life of Father Bernardine, from the very days of hiv novitiate to the day of hia 1 l.
“oe death, was his remarkable love of, and fidelity to, the Observance. This shone out in many ways, and was matched by his devotion to the Holy Rule, and to his priestly duties. It was often remarked, too, by others, with what attention and dévotion he daily offered up thé Holy Sacriffice of tha Mass, But the keynote of his character was his simplictty. The simplicity of his life brought him such holiness of charactor as to be appreciated by all with whom he came in contact. It was bis pavpiness to see his brother John enter the VinsentLen Order, in which he became Provinsial, end to ses his sister becoma a religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Oross and Passion. Father Bernardine went to his eternal reward on the 26th May 1959, at the ripe old age of 81 years, of which 42 years had been spent in the priesthood. He will long be rémembered by his brethren as e loys) and devoted #on of our holy Sounder St. Paul of the Oross. He will long be remembered by the psople of the parish in Herne Hey as a gonsecientious and painstaking paster. May he rest in peace! 2.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.