Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Enda Elliott 1908 - 1981 REV. ENDA ELLIOT, C.P. At 5 p.m. on Friday, February 20th, 1981, Father Enda Elliot died in Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross, Dublin. It was the end of a long and painful illness that had necessitated hospital treatment on several occasions during previous years, and in the last few weeks, intensive care was provided by the Irish Sisters of Charity in the Hospice. Several of the Community of Mount Argus were with him in his final moments, and noted the peace and calm with which he accepted death. A native of Belfast, he was born on 4th May 1908. Known as Frank Elliot, he spent his early years in the dockland parish of St. Joseph, attending Star of the Sea Primary School, and later, St. Malachy's Diocesan College. During those years he would have imbibed that staunch Catholicism that characterised an area enduring much discrimination and persecution for the faith. In later years, when he was given to reminiscing, he spoke of some of the great characters who lived in the city at that time, and, no doubt, influenced him in some way. For instance, his uncle, Patrick Burns, who taught him a love for literature - ‘he taught me to read and what to read’; 'Barmey' Gillespie, who had endeared himself to all the pupils of St. Malachy's for the deep love he had for the pupils but hidden behind a severe and gruff manner. During those school years, Frank Elliot may have heard of the Passionists in Ardoyne, and many a time, would have looked at the impressive towers that dominated the Crumlin Road, and could be seen clearly from the gates of St. Malachy's School. Be that as it may, Frank Elliot took the first steps in his Passionist Vocation when he petitioned Fr. Alan Kennedy, the Provincial of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, to be admitted, and was sent to St. Patrick's House, Wheatfield in September 1924. Here he was to continue his education and learn about the Passionist way of life in this Juniorate. Two years later, he was successful in the Matriculation for Queen's University, Belfast. In November 1926, Frank Elliot was clothed in the habit, taking the name Enda of the Seven Dolours, and began his novitiate under the saintly Fr. Boniface Connolly. His profession took place on 14th November 1927. Studies in Philosophy and Theology followed in St. Anne's Retreat, St. Helen's, Lancashire. It was in the Church of St. Anne's that he was ordained to the Priesthood by Most Rev. Dr. Downey, Archbishop of Liverpool on 29th June, 1933. In 1927, the Province of St. Patrick was constituted, and with several of his companions, Fr. Enda chose to live in St. Patrick's Province, comprising Ireland and Scotland. During his student days, and shortly after Ordination, Fr. Enda had suffered several bouts of sickness. In view of this, his appointed ministry was to be director of students in Mount Argus, Dublin. He brought to this work a versatile mind and showed himself to be a man of great compassion and kindness. Over the years that he exercised this office, he was able to assist the students intellectually as well as spiritually and he was remembered by all for his unfailing patience. During this time, too, he exercised the Preaching Ministry, in a limited degree, and was well known as a sympathetic confessor. In contrast to this specialised work with philosophical and theological students, he was appointed as Chaplain to an internee ship. The floating prison was anchored on Strangford Lough and housed 214 internees. This was a most difficult assignment, but, as ever, Enda accepted it and was able to provide the very necessary aids of the catholic faith to men embittered by their summary imprisonment without trial. Later, Fr. Enda exercised the various Passionist Apostolates throughout Ireland and Scotland. His missionary work was limited but he was noted for his retreats to Clergy and Religious. During his years in Holy Cross, Ardoyne, he was spiritual director to the Legion of Mary and instructed innumerable converts. He was sought after as a spiritual director and confessor. What is significant is that these activities were carried out in spite of failing health and developing diabetic ailments which were with him to the end of his life. Apart from his years as Director of Students, Fr. Enda filled the office of Consultor for Scotland and was Provincial Secretary for several years. Here again, he was to show his great ability and fluency with the language. Even official letters were an example of precision and clarity and yet not couched in the monotonous phrases that predominate such epistles. Outstanding among the qualities of Fr. Enda was his obedience. No matter what the demands were, he was always ready to go where he was requested and undertake the apostolate appointed him. Those who lived with him found in him a most pleasant companion, and considerate to the point of embarrassment. In his later years when deafness shut him out from much of what was happening, he was patient and docile, showing no signs of impatience and yet, endeavouring to hear and to share with his fellow religious. The most vivid memory of Fr. Enda must be his patience in suffering at all times. For most of his life, his passion was ill health and doubtless he had found the secret of suffering in his love of the Passion of Christ, for Passionist he was in a very real sense. In the concelebrated funeral Mass, at which Fr. Aidan Troy, Provincial, was the principal celebrant, the homilist, Fr. Kenneth Brady, Rector of Mount Argus, took as his text the words from St. John's Gospel: "Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." Fr. Kenneth continued: "in a real way this text characterised the last few years of Enda's life. To the end, he was a great fighter with a tremendous determination to live. He just would not give up. He was cheerful and patient throughout his long illness and never lost his sense of humour which was so characteristic of him throughout his whole life. But as the Cross began to be more and more laid upon, and as he had to let go of his independence, he accepted the invitation of the Lord to follow him in suffering with real generosity and with a real appreciation of the love shown him by the Community, his family, the little Sisters of the Assumption and the Irish Sisters of Charity, hospital and nursing staff." Father Enda was buried in the Community cemetery, Mount Argus. May he rest in peace.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.