Obituary Notice
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Fr. Frederick Heffernan (1868-1911) ? Very Rev and dear Father, | In lene than two monthe after Father Gregory calfehan hud paered away, death Gleimed snother valuable manmber of our Provinoe in the person of Fether Frederick, But unlike Father Gregofy, whose work wae finished and #shose years had almost touche) the proverbind limit of thrae acore and ten, Father Frederick #ags ont of f unexpectedly in the prime of life ond in the midat of hia activity. He hed but just closad a migeion and bad raturned to hie monastery at Ardégne, when he waa struck down by the tlinesa whish proved to be hie leat. Almost vefore Ate fatal character waa fully recognised, the end cama; and on ‘gn ! the morning of the elet of June Agurrounded by hie orothren, . - Father ¥rederiok reaoelived the last Sroraments with edifying fervour and a fer minutes later peacefully breathad forth hin soul to God, | | | Father Freder tok of the Sacred Beart,’ known in the world aa Patrick Senanus Heffernen, wae a Kilkenny men, and waa born on July 3th, 1868, Only in hie fortysthird year, he had apent twenty. yerres in the priesthood, and these twenty were sapent where the prisatly life waa no sinesure, where it demanded sacrifice from him, which he always oheerfully and readily made. TJamedintely after his ordination he wae appointed Vica-Master of novicen, from which office he wae translated in 1898 to this Retreat of ’ Holy Grogs,
Be | For four years he laboured here, and thet those years ere efAll well remembered for hia kindness to men and his zeal for God's glory, evidenced by the great tribute of sorrow shown for him end the aympathy tendered to unm at hie cheequige. Put the real work of hie life wae done in Australia. He was just becoming well+known here when volunteers were eaked for. PFathar Fredorick offered to take hie share in that then very uphill work. His offer wan eccepted, In Anetralia, hia genial. ddeponition, and untiring seal, end utter unaelfishnese made him wentad everywhere, and unsparingly he apent himeelf for fifteen yeare. Renides the miasions which he gave in the back places of New South Wales and Yartern Auntralia, where sat timea the most ordinary conveniences of life conld not be had, he gave numerous retreata fo convents and confraternities, He wae Superior of our Retreat in Goulburn, and again in Marrickville, where he bore so cheeffully the atradn of slender finence that none knew of it exceyt hia superiora at hdme and the God in Whose Providence he trusted, Of the esteem men had for him in Australia, we want no higher teatimony than that of the great Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of fydney., In # letter, written on Auguct 3let, 1910, $0 the Bishop of the diocere in which Father Frederick was to labour in thease countries ~- Cardinal Moren writes: and it will serve for hin penegyriciss ‘fhe Rev. Father Fraderick Heffernen, of the Pesaionist Order, hea for nevernl yeara Jaboured in this dioce sa an superior. of the Passionicet Nona rtery and parochial dietriot of Karriokville, and ne migaionary giving missione in various parochial districta. | see og Pon RES es pd Gate aa
3. At all times he hae proved himeelf a most zealous, enlightened and devoted priest. His misaions have been moat suceasaful, and hie parochial adminintration most fruitful of blessings to the faithful of the district. I am sincerely grateful to him for bie hearty cooperation in every diocesan work, end wish him mogt cordially avery blesaing in carrying on the same glorioun work of religion wheresoever hie lot may be onet.! Wa, his brethren, may be forgiven if we are proud of thet teatimony, written by the @ardinal's own hand, and you will little. wonder if theee fe deep sorrow in our hearte thet the Cardinal's wish for tha ‘aame glorious work' here must be, ot leaet in part, unfulfilled, Father Frederick's life wes, indead, one of hard and exnrnest and unselfieh work: but he knew that work was not everything, and a eolid and unobtrusive piety waa the mein spring of all his labours and gave & eupernsaturel bent to all thet he did. He will long be remembered for hia genial, kindly disposition, his charity, hie unselfishneesn, hin seal; and the prayers of his _ brethren and of the many, both in these countries and under the Southern Cross, who benefited by hie example and hin ministrations will not fet] him before Bod's Throne. T remain, Very Rev. and dear Father, Your effaotionate Brother in Christ. fpeeterk
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.