Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Celestine Whiteside (1877-1936) e | OBITUARY Rev. Father Celestine (Whiteside), C.P.. #000000 500000¢ 2000000000000 December has rarely pas- ' sed without tho -melan- choly necessity.,of recording the death of at least one Passionist in these countries. The year 1936 proved no exception, for in the early portion ‘of the nionth we had to chronicle thé death: of Fr. Celestine (Whiteside), C.P! The loss was not indeed unexpected, ' for the late Fr. Celestiné; who never enjoyed very robust health, had been gradually failing for some months previously.’ - Known in the world as Thomas Whiteside, the deceased Passionist was a native of. Tydavnet, Co. Monaghan, ‘in the Diocese of .Clogher,; -.where he was -born’ on November 28rd, 1877. He had been for. some years at business in Belfast before he felt attracted — towards the religious state. Making . the considerable sacrifice which a vocation necessarily entailed, he crossed to London, and having manifested his desire .to "the Provincial of the Passionists at Highgate, he was. accepted as a _postulant. After spending some time at a Retreat which the Passionists then possessed ~ at Wareham, Dorsetshire, he pro- ceeded to St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, and when the year of probation had been completed, he made his profession on January 24th, 1900. _.His student days were passed at Mount Argus, Dublin, but before long the delicacy of health, which was to be a constant. trial _ to him in the later years, com- _. menced to manifest itself. Despite the interruptions caused by illness he pursued his ecclesiastical studies with such diligence and zeal that the Superiors judged it opportune. to expedite his ordination. Accordingly he was raised to the priesthood on June 9th, 1906, by Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, and the general expectation was that but a few short years of priestly life awaited him. But Fr. Celestine confounded the gloomy prophecies of the pessimists, and fighting the battle against ill-health with dogged perseverance, he laboured in the apostolic ministry for more than thirty years before he laid down his burden. At various times he was stationed at the Retreats of Highgate, London; Herne Bay, Kent; Broadway, Worcs. ; and Enniskillen, ' Co. Fermanagh, whilst his last years were spent at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. In all these places many cherish vivid memories of his multifarious activities. Although he was seldom in the public eye, he never spared himself in hidden and uhobtrusive labours undertaken on behalf of those who sought his aid in trouble or distress.. At Mount Argus he was engaged for a considerable time in delivering the catechetical lectures atthe early Sunday Masses; and those who heard his clear exposition and lucid explanation of fundamental Christian doctrines profited not a little from his zeal and his eloquence. _ ot This latter work was particularly congenial to him, and admirably suited to his special talents. Gifted with a penetrating mind and more than ordinary intellectual capacity, Fr. Celestiné—had he so désired—-might have made a name for himself as a theologian of merit ae : , ‘oo Cy" late years the month of FATHER CELESTINE (WHITESIDE), C.P. t
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.