Obituary Notice
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Fr. Eustace McAuley (1863-1951) OBITUARY REV. FR. EUSTACH McAULEY, C.P. With the death of Rev, Fr, Eustace of St. Joseph, which occurred at St, Gabriel's Retreat, the Graan, St. Patrick's Province lost one of its most esteemed and best-loved priests, Joseph McAuley was born in Garrison, Co. Fermanagh, in 1863, and en- tered the Passionist Novitiate in Broadway, Worcs., where he made his religious Profession in 1891, and was ordained in 1898. Shortly after ordination he was assigned to the Church of Our Lady, Avenue Hoche, Paris, which catered especially for English-speaking rosidents and tourists. During the five years he laboured there, the tide of anti-clericalism, which marked the close of the 19th century in France, was reaching its peak, The Government ordered the disbandment of all Religious Communities and though the Passionists remained unmolested for sone time, they were finally forced to return to England in 1903. Here Fr. Rustace was appointed to St. Joseph's Retreat, Highgate. In 1905 his father died leaving the family in ‘poor circumstances and Fr, Eustace had reluctantly to seek secularization in order to provide for their support, Permission was granted him and he was admitted to the Diocese of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S,A. Once he was relicved of this burden of charity he returned to the Congregation; with singular humility he repeated his Novitiate and renewed his Vows in 1914. With the outbreak of war, he was appointed Chaplain to two military hospitals at Herne Bay and for the four years whilst hostilitics lasted he ministered to thousands of soldiers wounded on European battlefields. Here he saw at first hand the appalling consequences of that savage conflict as the stream of ambulances poured endlessly into the hospitals under his care.
Ze With. the end of the war.worse was to come, He was plunged into a task that “tested every fibre of body and soul. The great influenza epidemic swept England and Ireland in 1918 and 1919, and during those years Fr. Bustace did heroic work, replacing priests stricken with the ‘flu and ministering to the sick and the dying. He carried on that work with unflinching courage and true Christ-Like charity and he became a revered and familiar Pigure in the slums and tenements and crowded hospitals of London, Glasgow and Belfast, where the epedemic took its heaviest toll, God rewarded his selfless charity, for though young and old, rich and poor, the strong and the weak were struck down; though the very air he breathed was charged with deadly germs, he passed through it a all unscathed, In 1920 he returned to his native Fermanagh where he was appointed Vice-Rector of St, Gabriel's Retreat, which had been founded someeleven years before, With that appointment, the first phase of his career ended, That phase spanned 30 years of priostly life and was one of frequent change and intense activity in the cities of many lands, Now, Obedience called him to a Retreat in the peaceful countryside and though he did not know it then, the remaining 31 years of his life were to be spent at the Graan; and it is with the Graan that his memory will always be associated, Hore he adapted himself quickly to his new surroundings, and he proved an invaluable asset to the young foundation where the commnity was still small. That St. Gabriel's stands to-day a flourishing Retreat and the Novitiate of St, Patrick's Province, is in large measure due to him; for his detailed knowledge of the locality and its people was always at the disposal of successive Rectors. Throughout his years here he applied himself to his priestly duties with the same zeal which marked his earlier years. He conducted Missions and Retreats with conspicuous success and even the less glamorous but no less exhausting
36 work of week-cnd supplies found hin ever ready and willing, irrespective of distance or personal discomfort. But it was in the Church attached to the Retreat that he laboured most. Here he used his intimate knowledge of the people to the best advantage, and they were quick to avail themselves of his kindness, sympathy and understanding. He was in constant demand for Confession. His sincerity and holiness were evident to all and countless were the demands made on his prayers, and many, too, were the favours attributed to his inter-~ cession with God, 7 However, the years took their inevitable toll and the once powerful physique, worn down in the wrvice of God and the Congregation, showed signs of weakness, His last years became a slowly intensifying martyrdom from rheu- matism, till at last, this truly great priest was unable even to walk the few steps to a nearby Oratory to offer Holy Mass, This was a bitter sacrifice to make, but he accepted the Will of God in this as in all else without a mumur, Although confined to his cell, he carried on a work which had been his for years, that of Spiritual Director and Confessor to the Community. For this work, the wisdom of the years, his own simple, unaffected picty and his constant prayor fitted him perfcctly. He had a special affection for the Postulants and Novices who passed through St. Gabriel's year by year. God alone knows how many owe perseverance in their new life to his guidance and counsel, The narrow con- fines of his cell did not make him a self-centred recluse, On the contrary, he maintained to the very end a lively interest in every aspect of the work of the Retreat and the Congregation and in national and international affairs, He was well-informed and had a very retentive menory. But, his most outstanding characteristic was his peacefulness in suffering and solitude, That peace and calm came from true Christian resignation which saw his infirmity as a precious gift from God, There was no bitterness, no complaint, no sighing for the years
he that were spent, His life's work was done and he awaited the call of his Divine Master | That call came on the night of February 13th, after a week of intense suffering and Fr, Eustace passed peacefully to his reward. He was laid to rest in the new cemetery at the Graan, after Solemn Requiem Mass, His Lord- ship, Dr, Eugene O'Callaghan, Bishop of Clogher imparted the Final Absolution at the Graveside. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.