Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Dunstan McQuirk (1864-1936) d, KK. PB. 34. Anneta Retreat, Button, ST. WELENGD, November 1936. FB. DUMBTAR, MoQUILRK, Cl. 2 Re iL. ay At two o'olook on the morning of 4rd November 1936, Fr. Dunstan of the Immaculate Conception paesed pescefully away. for a long time previously, he had bean suffering frem a cancer which caused him from time to time a great deal of pain, although, in view of his highly strung tetiperamens, he wae spared the knowledge of the nature of hie disenee. Two years ago, ao serious operation was performed on him, and some relief ensued, but since that time the disease had aradually developed. At the end of April of last year, he unfortunate- ly feil and injured his leg, and from that time he became a more or Lees confirmed invalid. Leet July, 14 beoame evident that his con- dition wae becoming weeker, and 16 was thought advisable that a trained nurse should be brought in. Accordingly, he wae placed under the care of one of the Alexian Brothers from Stillington Yorks, who remained with him until the end. A few days before his death, Fr. Dunetan became noticeably worne, Fy, Rector of the Retreat made known to him the oritical nature of hia condition, and he received the Last Sacra- ments with edifying fortitude. On the evening of October 30th, the Community wae summoned to his cell, and the prayere fer the dying were recited. Soon afterwards, he relapsed into a semi-consolous state, during which he struggled againet a diffioulty in breathing. At times, he responded to words spoken to him, manifesting hie resignation to the Will of God and {oining ae beet he could in short ejadulatory prayers; and in thie condition he lingered on until he died. Born at Balbriggan, Go. Dublin, Treland, on 16th Karoh 1664, PatFlok MeQuirk was the only ohild of his parente. They lived in straightened cirounstances, and were in consequence unable to give him the good eduoation they desired him to have. God, however, Who had planted the seed of wn vocation in hie young heart, helped him in many waye, and he soon found, in the family of the Haguires, who lived a short distance away, friends who helped and encouraged him os far as they dowld, in the attainment of his vocation, treating him as one of the family, At length, at the age of 80, attracted to the Pasaioniat seeetiget ion, his opportuni ty dame, and in Maroh 1684 he entered the Hevitiate at Broadway toros. Professed on 30th March 1986, #e Conf. Diiigtan of the Immnovlate Conception, he was sent to St. Anne's sutton, where he commenced the usual course of studies in preparation for the priesthood, The oall of the miesion field, however, soon made ite pre@énce atrongiy felt. He quickly reaponded to the sacrifices it Ogmanded of him, willingly volunteering hie services, which were nocept- ed by hie Superiora, Addordingly. his studies were continued in Belgium and Italy. ‘hen a Deacon, he was sent to Bulgaria, and was there raised to the priesthood on 17th Nay 1990.
| 1t was in Bulgaria that his great life's work was accom- plished. For nearly forty years, he threw himself into that work with paineteking seal. The chief centre of his activities was Varna, on the shores of the Biaok Ses, where he was placed in charge of the Asatte Church. Hie parishioners ingluded persons of many nationall- ties, but with moat of them Fy. Dunstan was able to converee in their vm tongue. Of his patient, unremitting work for soule in that far- off tinck Sea port, but little record now remains, for he but rarely wpoke uf his hard work there, and never of hie own achievements. at from the stories he wos induced to tell, 1% wee eaey for hie listeners to gather how many privations he wae dalled upon to bear, what hard- ships he endured, and what toile he willingly underwent for souls, during those long years of missionary work, which shanged him from an eager young priest to a white-haired old man. During the period of the Great War, he remained at his post, although of a11 the countries doncerned, Bulgaria wae one of the hardest hit. Feod was scarce, clothing wae dear, and many a time Fr. Dunstan relied upon what scrape ef food sould be spared from a neighbouring Convent, to stave off the pangs of hunger. Hie ohurch shelled, his congregation wsoattered, he himself regarded with euspicion by some as an enemy subject, he yet endeavoured to be, for the sake of souls, like the Apostle st. Paul “all things ¢o al11 men". iow wall he succeeded was testified by the decorations bestowed upon him, four times by Bulgaria, twice by France, and onoe by Poland. Yet, far more eloquent testimony of his unsparing seni for soule and work for othere was to be found written on his counter anoe and marked upon his frail frame. He had given himself to the services of God in the missionary field, and he shrank from none of the sacrifices 1¢ demanded of him. when he returned to Ungiand, it was av a battle soarred acldier of Christ, hie shattered health the trophy of his viotories. The remaining ten years of his life, spent at 5t. Anne's Button, were, however, by no means Unprodugtive of their special fruit. fr. Duneten's kindly and genial manner with all soon won him a especial place in the hearts of the people, and before long his Confessional ‘was threnged with penitents. while his etrength lasted, he was tire- leas in hia devotion to the Confessional, From early morning until night, he was at the people'a call. Hours of work in the district are often inconvenient, and the parishioners in consequence are obliged to frequent the Confessional at inconvenient houre. Fr. Dunetan would never neglect to answer the Confessional Bell, even when 1% would repeatedly ring on a Sunday merning. The people, quiok to notioe this, were sorrespon ingly grateful to the aged priest who protected their spiritual interests eo well. He was the favourite confessor, too, of the neighbouring Clergy, some of whom would oome to the Retreat from -Goneideradle distances in order to benefit by his spiritual ministra- Aions. Indeed, one of Fr. Innstan's ohief regrets, when his etrength failed him, was hia inability to continue thin good work. qually remarkable wae his devotion to the Holy Saorifioe, Even during his dilnese, he managed, with assistance, to rise every day from hin bed early in the morning, It was hia one big effort of the day; fe would hobble to the ahoiy with the aid of crutches, vest himself with the utmost diffieulty, and eay Holy Mase. Afterwards, when hie dliness was well advanced, he tried todo the same thing, and 4% wae only when he had no longer the strength to ntand, that he was reluotantly compelled to desist. “Hlessed ere the dead who die in the Lord. rom hence- forth new, saith the Spirit, that they may reat from their labours. Yor thelr works follow them, x1V.13 a r a
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.