Ephrem O'Connell CP

Obituary Notice

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—. Fr. Ephrem O'Connell (1882-1953) SOM ae res OBIT UA RY FATHDR. BPHREM OF THB INFANT JESUS Shock and grief combined to ¢ast a gloom over Holy Gross Retreat, Belfast, on the morning of dune 17, 1953) when the senior member of the Jommunity ~ and the senior but two of the #rovince - Father Ephrem of the Infant Jesus, was found dead in bed. . In some cases, the death 6f one who has entered upon hig 72nd yéar ig not altogether unexpected = more especially when such a One has. been in delicate or failing health; but, although Father Bphren had had, for upwards of a de¢ade or more, a chronic disease of the heart which caused considerable concern at times, the element of shock was very little lessenéd when the end came so suddenly. He had been on his feet and in the best of spirits up to the very night before, when he. was chatting cheerfully with his Brethren and look- tng forward in happy anticipation to a visit from his brother and sisters = one of the latter being a dister of the Gross and Passion stationéd inh Brgland. His Obsequies took place at Holy Cress on dune 19, when V.- Rev. Father Provincial was the éélebrant of the Solemn Requiem Mass and the Bishdép of Down ard Connor Most Rev. Drs Mageean, presided. . Known in the world ag. thomas O'Connell, Father Ephrem was born in Glasgow on May 24, 1882, and redeived his early education at St. Mungo's Adad amy, Qagpeateoes aoe TY 7 heb eebnanalne tip lianas ye While still in his seventeenth year, he entered dur Novitiate at St, Saviour's Retreat, Broadway, Woréestershire, and was professed on Augusty 27, 1899. His years aa a Student ware spent at St. Paul's RéefFeat) Dublin, and he was also otdained in Dublin on September 22, 1906, © From his sarliest years as a Passionist, his Superiors did not fail td hotice his personal piety, his fidelity to the Observance in Choi, his deep devotedness to the Holy Rule and hig love for our traditions, as well as his gentile atid gentlemanly manner, coupled with an intenaely priestly attitude in all things, So it was ho surprige to his Brethren when he was appoitited Vice-Master of Novices while still a vety young priest, Further eonfidence was reposed in him ag Director of Students, Dirgétor of Student=Priests and Viee- Rector of St, Paul's Retreat. Then, in 1915, when the tate Father Hilary became Sonsultor-General, father Bphrem tad elected to replace him as Master of Novices at St. dabriel's Retreat « an office to which hé was Fe=-elecied.. Those of us who were his Novices remember and fevere him with more than ofdinary respect, affeétion and grati- tudé: in an especial way do we fecall hig impartial kindness, his inféctious refinement and, above ali, his burning, heart»bidden words in his unforgettable talks on the Sacred Passion and the Mothe® of Sorrows, We Pedail also that, at the Provincial Chapter

0 (2) of 1917, it was,t tough his arguments and good offices that leave for butter at the morning collation was obtained for the Novices of the then Anglo=Hibefnian Province. During all these years, hile he never spared himself in unremitting discharge of the various offices assigned to him, and ~ Hiso for tay yeats afterwards, Father Bphret gave many missions in ireland and Great Britain, as well as conducting a very large number of retreats for Sodalities(especially Ghildren of Mary) and Religious Communities. in this sphere of his maty eee characteristically a Passionist as is so readily re- tettibered tid—besedettieed by the unnumbered priests, #eligious and lay- folk to whom, for and under God, he tendered such edifying and such untiring serviee, Many a soiled of sorrowing soul he sanctified in the sadred secrecy of his confessional, whete he was so sought after and So patient and so kindly. His wise éownsél and valuable advice were always at the disposal of those of hig Brethren who confided to hin their worries or doubts; and few were more undefstanding or more enéouraging = even when one’s worry might be partly begotten of some little weakness of waywardness. Worthy of mention is Father Sphrem! s Feady willing-« ness wheti, in the Heke twenties, his Superici#s invited him to go, with the late Father Thomas, to minister in a missionary capacity to the ppel ish. spebking Gatholiés ift Buenos Aires, At this work he spentsg fruitful years, and spoke often since with vorypleasant vecoliection of his experienées:. While there, as ¢otdially related by our Argentinian Brethren, he discharged this temporary task with \chinduderistie seal and much sudéess. He returned in 1930 and, after a short term at St. Paul's Aetreat « during whieh he was once again [Director of Student=Priesta = Ke came ‘de familia! to Holy Groas whete the feiaitder of his life was spent, 'Nikid de mortuis nisi bonum'' is an axioth or principle seldom dishonoured ih its breach = thotigh there aie sotte, practically- . tiitided rather than unkind, who fegard it as sometimes ovet=stressed and who héld that objective or historic truth should not be. sacrificed for exaggerated charity. In this nedfology, however, there is. no room for falge éuphedis#, nor is there need for strained eulogies. In the life of Father Ephrem, as we whe lived with him knew it, there was no fault to hide, Barlier passing referente has been made to his gentleness, gentiemaniiness and charity, Yet he was no man for the soft word when righteous indignation simmeréd, or even boiled, within him. Hé was a ruthless wrecker of the unkind untruth, and a challeng- ing champion of any cause which to him seemed right and just and goodt fearless in dignified denunciation, devastating in defence p-eten—in » fasteng fue, of those detracted 6r unable to plead their own cause. In diaéussing matters regarding which he had strong feelings or con- victions, he could be amusingly and almost irritatingly, wordy} but

(3) | | | . never rough or rudé or even slightly unrefined in word or bearing, His grand ahd priestly virtues aré too many to mention and extol. Wé temember hig edifying recital of the Divine Office and Cotimunity Prayers, “We remember his Mass = a lesson in liturgy and a sermon in sanctity: not only his correct and devout celebrat- jon of the Holy Sacrifi¢e, but also his hunger for hearing as many Masses as he could and his love for serving another's Mass when the chance cane his way. We remember how the people revered and respected him, and how many besdught ana believed in his prayers, And we retiember® and miss His genial jocularity at recreation to the very day before his death, Thésé lines, however, would be wanting and unworthy were there no word of what was the spiritual maingpring and the outstand= ing ,@hepastenietia of hig life = his deep devotion to Our Blessed tad ; @olouring and beautifying his every interest and endeavour, © To heat hid preach of Her was an unforgettable Uxperiences to sée him pray to Het, to watch him work for Her, are memories that we cherish, Never would he omit, Monday after Monday, te take part with thé people in at least two of the four Devotions of the Per- petual Nevena in honour of Her Sofrows. No one but himself dare . pluck and trim and fix the flowers loving laid by him at the feet of all Her statues in the Retieat; and, if unwell or away, his re« finder to his deputy wags "Don't forget fresh flowers for Our Blessed | Mother," fn hig later days, when heavier work: was forbidden him ~ him by Superiors and physician alike, his love for Het and his zeal for souls struggled for and found an outlet in his devotedness to the Legion of Mary, He would never, unless really i11, miss a tleeting of his own Praesidium, whose members wete go moved and motivated by his words and éxanple; and he loved to go, on Sunday mornings, to the Sancta Maria Hostel in Belfast to celebrate Holy Mass ahd talk about Our. Holy Mother to the poot souls who had wan= | | dered away from the law and the love of Her Divine Son. A few days | after his death a devout Legionary gaid to one of our Community: | “We'll never feplace Father Ephrem at Sancta Maria, He was so holy, 80 kind and so cheerful; but he was at his best when he talked to us of Our Ladys "fig. BA darne Ab a of mosey stealer antl aalrense Tnbulic, . When we found him dead, i ale reposing peacefully with no sign of stfesa or struggle 6n hie ‘featutes or | his fraie, his fingets still clasped Mary's Rosiry! And tio one wondered saesas - I day perpetual. Hight. shine -‘upon: hint re

Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.