Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. CONLETH Boothman (1899-1949) oO Brief U AR Y ee The AngéX 6f Death cane peacanbly to fr. Gonleth on the afternoon of Sunday, fnd OCatober 1949. In the lotter weeks of hie life, he had longed for and deeired its coming, ond prayed that God would O81 hin home to Himself. it oan be affirmed without hesitation thas the words of the Holy Ghost had their fulfilment in hie death "Blensed are the dead who die in the Lord" In the morning, he hod onee agoin redcived Noly Viaetioum, and in the aot of expiring, He was given his final abeolution and received the Sacrament of Wxtreme Unotion. Since the beginning of July, he had suffered much from recurrent heart attacke which rendered him more weakened in body and caused him mich dhatreas. He anticipated that hie death would come in one of these turns wich added to the intensity of hie sufferings. But his prayera were answered, and death ovne to him oalnly and quietly, and welcomed as a friend . Amongst his papers after hie death, was found a prayer which was evidently mich used by him and which reflected his deep ond solid spiritual lifes it was an offering of hie sufferings and afflictions to God to purify and sembify hia soul ond bring it closer snd make 1t mora conformable to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Hie offering was accepted and for the last five yeara of his life, he endured sharp pain and acute distress from heart ottacks, ingormisa ond weakness Known ty the world an Louis RBoothman, he war born in yublin on the 12th February 1899. He raceived his vocation to the Passioniste in his early teens, end having completed his early studies at "St. Gabriela Retreat" Sandymount, Uurblin, he was professed et "St, Gabriels Neatreat” Hmmiskillen on the 24th October 1917. Hie Student years were spent at "St. Paul's Retreat" Mount Argus, tublin, and he was ordained to the Priest. hood on £3rd December 1985
to Pao A year later he was transferred to "St. Saviours Retreat® Broadway where he began his Misstonery work to which he was much devoted. Gifted with a deep oclesr resonant voloe, he used it with mich effect in the pulpit and on the platform, and olergy and laity spoke highly of him and of the good done by hin On miseione, he wie very keen and seelous in vielting the houses of the people and won them by hig affability of manner and his patient-understanding of their difficulties end problems. In the Oonfessional esnecinily, he was noted for his seal and he never tired of the work, but was always glad and rajoioed when this partiouler work of the priesthood was being dong. ~~ heavy After some yeare spent nt Hroadway, he was transferred to "St. Anne's Retreat" Sutton and for a time he was appointed to Parish work there. Ha endeared himself to the people by his nelf ssorifice and work on their behalf, ond won the heartea of the men who remember him with gratitude down the yeora. He spent some years on the missionary oteff at "St. Paul's Retroat Ilkley, and at "St. Gabriel's Retreat" Grnakirk, and wan alwayea ready when oolled upon to give missions and retreat 6, supply work and charity sermons. In 1939, he woe appointed Vicar in "St. Mary's Retreat" Farborne, and at the Pr ovinotal Chapter of 1941, he was eleoted Rector of "Sts Gabriel's Retreat" Ormekirks The work connected with the Alumiate appesled to him, ond he gave himself wholeheartedly and conpletely to the work there which was et411 in ite infanoy and beset: “with many probleme. In # special manner, he worked for the success of the Retreat movement partioularly of the Ulergy ltetreats whilst Rector for six years at "St. dabrield Retreat” He was at moh pains going into the emallest details to {norease and extend the work and many of the sedukar clergy from the Liverpool, Salford and Lanoenster dlocesgee spent happy and fruitful daye on retreat there, and spoke with gratitude of the wolaome ond hospitality dow there, and the care and provision mide for thon in every way Ag 4 religious, rv Conleth wae conspiouons for his oharity and
«Se patience. Of a phlegmatic nature, he did not let things Quffle or disturb him unduly and kept an even balence when confronted with probleme and avkwerd eituationa. He hed grea’ hope and truat in God, and this wae manifested and refleoted in hin interest in and charity towards others and the weaker ond the less furtunote of his follow-men. | In the last few dsaya of hin Life spent ot Nerne Bay, he edified the Commnity and these who came into contact with him by his cheerfulness, patience and suatained auffering, But the outstanding virtue whose ménory Lingere tongeat with ue ia tha sacrifices he made norning after morning, very often after o sleepless night to go into the alter of God to offer the Adorable Gacrifines 16 was all, he deolered that he had to live fore It moont tbo him grace and strength to ouffer more ond te be made more oconfcrmable to the Wvine Vietim of Uslvery. Ro Ye Ba (7 } ti Ae WSs | Lofercer
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.