Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Fabian Grogan (1902-1994) + Father Fabian Grogan, C.P. 19Q2-1994 Early in the morning of Jantiary 22nd 1994 Father Fabian passed to his Eternal Reward, His death was not unexpected- he had been ill for quite a long time. Born in Rhode, Co. Offaly, on January ist 1902, he was the youngest of five children - three boys and two girls. He was baptised on January 3rd and was given his father’s name, Francis. Sadly; his mother, Mary, died one week after the birth of her son. Fabian mourted this great loss all his life. Fabian, himself, was a very delicate baby and was not expected to live but live he did and three weeks before his death he celebrated his 92nd birthday! His elder sister, Sister Paschal, C.P., took care of him as a child and proved to be a second mother to him and reared him until his father re-married. Fabian was then sent to St. Vincent’s Orphanage, Dublin. His childhood memories were not entirely happy and he seldom spoke of them in later years. Fabian belongs to a long history of Passionist Association. He was related to three families who contributed many eminent members to the Congregation - the Gavins, the Kellys and the Grogans. A grand-uncle, Fr. Vincent Grogan; was an outstanding Provincial and a cousin, Fr. Oliver Kelly, is at present a member of Mount Argus community. When, as a young man, Fabian’s thoughts turned towards the Religious Life and Priesthood he naturally considered the Passionists. At the age of sixteen he went to our Juniorate, at that time in Sandymount, Dublin. He then entered the novitiate at The Graan, Enniskillen on December 6, 1919 and was clothed in the Passionist habit on January 5, 1920. He was given the name Fabian but chose as his:devotion Jesus Crucified - a most appropriate title as he held his Crucified Master in the deepest and most reverential love all his long life. Having completed his novitiate he and all the members of his class were transferred to St. Anne’s Retreat, St. Helen’s, Sutton, England. Here he spent all his student days. He and his fellow students were ordained to the priesthood on September 18, 1926 at St. Anne's Church, Liverpool. Shortly after ordination he was appointed Vice-Master of Novices. This was his first position of responsibility and for the next fifty three years he was scarcely ever out of office. He was Vicar in The Graan, Drum-mohr and Mount Argus} Director of Theological Students; Rector for 28 years (in almost every retreat in the Province); Novice Master for two terms and Provincial Consultor in Scotland. He was instrumental in obtaining our retreat house in Coodham. He was loved by all but particulariy by his communities when he was a local superior. Fabian was an understanding community man, he loved to be with his brethren at choir, recreation or refectory; he was a man of prayer and a man of work. He did, for a short time, play a spot of Golf but his real hobby was gardening -"thank God for a garden" were words often on his lips. Fabian never retired. Even after relinquishing office in 1980 he joined the Mount Argus Community and even though old he was one of its most
active and obliging members: any kind of work that needed to be done Fabian was ready and willing. The death of a religious leaves a gap in the community and in the hearts of the members of the community where he lived. None more so than Fabian: He is remembered by us all as a Priest, Missioner and Superior, with the greatest respect. His pet name ’Mother’ is a testimony of the high regard we had for our brother, Fabian. May he rest in peace.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.