Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Herbert Greenan (1879-1944) Father Herbert (Greenan) of Saint Patrick. 145 Ir. -Herbert, Known in the world as Patrick Greenan, was born at Sandyford, near Tniblin, on March 24th 1879. His father was the villace school-mastor. Ne wag educ- cated at the Preparatory School of the Noly Ghost Vathers at Rathmines, and pasced thence to their Ccollese at Rockwell in Tipperary, where he had a very distinguished record. He became a Passionist novice at Rroadway, Worcs., on Angust T2th T7896, being professed a year later as Conf. Perbert of St. Petrick. Te then joined the cless of students at Highgate, where he renained until his ordination Web. 27th 1904. Ne preached as a deacon at Midnight Wass, Christmas 1903, .this sermon was a greet success and evryone was agreed that the Congreration of the Tassion would have in bim an orator ol no mean merit. , “Fe was sent to Rroadwa y and after a years etay was transferred to Sptton. There he remained for 5 years and made for himeelf a hie reputakxion in Tivervool and Lenca- shire. A well-known eriest of Liverpool declared that "of all the preachers who for 7 days had spoken. in the services for the Canonisation of John Eudes, Pr. Werbert wes easily the finest". During these years also he was enraged without intermisgion in giving missions and retreats both in lingland and Irelanc. ‘At the Provincisl Chapter of I9II he was appointed Viver at St. Joseph's, Highgate where he spent 3 very busy years, and then returned once more to the work of giving missions, for which none was better qualified. oo Afterwards he svent sore years in Treland, first at Mount Argus and then at Ardoyne . In both of these places he did very succ an 1 work as Director of the Arch- confraternity of the Passion, a work which he varwer ularly liked, and delighted in furthering to the utmost of his ability. ‘He wag then recalled to office, and given for the second time the Vicarship of St. Joseph's, Highgate. There he solebrated the anniversary of the Silver Jubilee of his ordination and was the recipient of a very flattering address and a generous mon- etary gift, which enabled him to go to America, where for a year he worked giving missions and retreats. A third Vicership fell to his care at the newly-opened Retreat in Tlkley, Yorks. Tt was here he composed and published his very interesting and delightful book, "howe Preachers of the Passion" - a wonderful record of the work of the lacsionists in thes Islands, and a touching personal tribute to the Congregation as a loving Fother and ows oer of great souls. . It was about this time that lth hezan to show signs of istress and forced him to undergo the first of several severe ahdominal operations. tithoush but a shadow of hic former rotund self, he etill found an cvtlet for his ¢ missionary ‘geal and continue? to conduct missions ant retreatr. Ne srent himsel constant work of this kind, and worked successively at our monasteries at Verne Ray, '. Sutton, Tarborne and Carmarthen. ; . St length his health gave way, and fer the lash years of his life he lived at our Retreat of St. Non's in Tembrokeshire and at Broadway in Worcestershire. It was fron the last ahode that he made his way to London in Noly Week of T944 to undergo an operation, from which, however, he wag mercifully erere as he parsed away on Raster Sunday at.'ethanie! in Wighgate, ve ny peacefully anc | fortified with all the Rites of the Church. Ue died at the age of 65. Re No one who knew Fr, Herbert intimately could fuil to he struck by his buoyant personality. He was the soul of good nature and of a lavishlyx ceneroues. disposition. Nis missionary zeal was known to all, but to his brethren eerecially he will be ever remembered best and longest for his big-hearted generosity and broed-minded charity.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.