Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. BONAVENTURE Wilson (1914-1974) FATHER BONAVENTURE WILSON C.P., R.I.P. The theme of two of the last sermons preached by Fr Bonaventure Wilson are perhaps worth mentioning in any account of his life. The first was that of confidence in our Lord, when he spoke of the incident in the Gospel where Martha expresses her trust in Christ, Who had come to the grave of her brother Lazarus: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died". The second was when on the Feast of Christ the King he spoke of the compassion of our Lord, aroused by the humble plea of the repentant thief: “This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise". Confidence and compassion - in Fr Bonaventure's own end, we might say, both were in evidence. He died suddenly and unexpectedly in King's Cross Station in London, on his return home to Herne Bay after a provincial chapter preparatory meeting at Ilkley which he had attended in his capacity of provincial consultor. Yet providentially, in the railway buffet where he collapsed there happened to be another priest who was able to show him the compassion of the Divine Master Whom he had served so trustfully and for so long. Born in 1914, Fr Bonaventure entered the Passionist minor seminary in Belfast though he was destined for St Joseph's province. He was professed a Passionist in 1930, and after a course of studies in Highgate and Sutton was ordained priest in 1936. His first appointment was to the newly founded Passionist minor seminary of 5t Joseph's province in Ormskirk in his own native Lancashire, and here for some 13 years he devoted himself to teaching the postulants. More than a quarter of the province was taught by hin, and remember him as a gifted and painstaking teacher, with a flair for hard work and-patient instruction. Here too in Ormskirk began his lifelong interest in vocations, which he was always zealous in promot- ing and painstaking in fostering. During the war years, he became chaplain in a local Royal Navy establishment, which he served faithfully. He also became known as a persuasive giver of missions and retreats. In addition to these and his teaching duties, he studied with his customary application for his B.A. degree; and having obtained it, went on further to take his Master of Arts degree at Liverpool University. In 1950, he was appointed vice-rector in St Joseph's Retreat, Highgate, and three years later became rector, a post he held for six years. In 1959 he was clected provincial consultor; and at the end of nis term of office was chosen to be rector in St Mary's, Birmingham.- In the chapter of 1965, he again became consultor, to which position he was re-elected in the following (extraordinary) chapter. The chapter of 1970 confirmed his consultorship once again; and he was also appointed to be rector of St Mary's Retreat, Herne Bay, Kent, where he went in 1971. Here he remained as second provincial consultor and rector until his untimely death on 5th December, 1974. His priestly life thus embraced a wide spectrum. His teaching abilities he exercised for 13 years; he was in frequent demand as missioner and retreat giver for over 30 years; while as parish priest in London, Birmingham snd Herne Bay for some 16 years his pastoral zeal was evident to all for whom he worlzed and who experienced the benefit of his priestly thoughtfulness. i/or should his initiative in
ecumenical matters be forgotten: during his stay in Herne Bay he. beld the position of President or the Herne Bay Council of Churches, and won the esteem and respect of many members of other denominations, as was clear from the sympathy expressed by so many of them at the time of his death. As a religious, he was always cheerful and willing to undertake the various duties imposed on him by obedience, and worked with a will and without complaint. Prayerful in spirit as he was , his confidence in God was evident to those who lived in his community for any length of time. As provincial consultor his counsel in weighty matters of provincial policy showed prudence and commonsense and betokened genuine loyalty to the Congregation as well as understanding and sympathy for individuals. if a motif for his religious and spiritual life be sought, it can be found in the chance remaxk of one of his class-mates who attended his funeral: “le was a man of compassion". Many of us knew at first- hand that compassion and willingness to help. Surely it arose from his devotion to the Sacred Passion, in which he learned the Divine Mercy on those who stumble, and which was always a feature of his spiritual life. Here, too, one may think, lay the secret of his confidence in Christ, Whose servant he always strove to be. With his death the Church has lost a zealous and hardworking priest; the province of 5t Joseph a loyal and devoted son; and the parishes in which he worked a warm-hearted friend who always. had their interests at heart. Human frailties he had in common with us ail; but Divine Compassion prepares no balance=sheet: and at. the last he had the sacramental help he had always hoped for from a fellow-priest. It is not fanciful to think that the prosaic name of "King's Cross" where he died has for many acquired a new significance. It is surely fitting that this should be the place where one who had for so long and so compassionately carried the Cross of Christ the King should lay it down at His sudden call; and first look upon the face of his crucified and glorified Master. MAY His GEST THY PHACH. Aidan, C.P. 34.44 34 J6£ 36 G4 OA 34 GS w wo w ray ray w ay ay a 3 hoe et Mw OH Gh KR % He HE HE OE OK Ag NOTE: The custom of sending out obituary notices of our deceased religious has dropped out in the province in the last few years. The spirit of fraternity dictates its re-establishment. This accounts for the delay in sending out. this notice of Father Bonaventure who died on 5th December, 1974. Hubert, C.P.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.