Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
St. Anne and Bl Dominic Monastery Lane, Sutton, St. Helens, et Merseyside WA9 35P Passtonists Teh (0744) 811935 Fax; (01744) 820557 FR. HILARY OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Fr. Hilary Culhane was born in Co. Tipperary on September 6th 1912 and died on June 21st 1997. No simple statement of fact could be more misleading in its simplicity! In the 84 years of his life he fulfilled many parts which has left his memory marked with deep affection. He was professed at Broadway on October 28th 1932 and went to Ilkley to join the class of students already in residence there. In course of time he was ordained there in 1938. Most of his priestly life was spent in the arduous apostolate of the parish although he was also Rector and Vicar of several of our Retreats during those years. His gentleness and simplicity endeared him to all, and his distress at other people’s sorrows was sincere and heartfelt. Towards the end of his life he was in the Sutton community but as ill-health increased it was evident that he needed professional care and was admitted to Park House Nursing Home in Liverpool. There he edified all who came in touch with him by his piety and spirit of prayer. If one went to visit him, calling at his room was so often a waste of time but one would easily find him in the Oratory along the corridor. In saying this, it sums up the only essentially important thing in his life - his relationship with his Lord and His Mother. In those last weeks of his life he walked with God, and when he died last June it was his last walk to the throne of God. he had so sincerely loved and served, and from whom there was a welcome saying , “Well done - enter into the joy of Thy Lord.” May he rest in peace. Liverpool R.C. Archdlocesan Trustees Inc, Registered Charity No. 232709
Fr. Hilary Culhane (1912-1997) FR, HILARY OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY (Culhane) Fr, Hilary was born in Ireland on September 6th 1912 and after passing through the Juniorate in Ireland, he came to the English Novitiate in Broadway and was there professed on October 28th 1932. Most of his pastoral work was with our parishes and he was Rector or Vicar in several houses in the Province. He was always a man of prayer, although he was dogged by bad health for many years with several spells in hospital. He was devoted to the ‘observance’ to which he had committed himself at his Profession and that observance did not mean merely going to choir at stated times, but the observing of that Rule laid down by St. Paul of the Cross. Although one can say, with great respect, that there was nothing spectacular in his life, yet it was all spectacular simply by everyday continued goodness. . The last year of his life was spent with the Augustinian Sisters at park House Nursing Home, where one of them is on record as saying “we were fortunate in having the privilege of caring for Fr. Hilary in the last year of his life. He edified all of us by his life of prayer. Many souls have reason to be grateful for Fr. Hilary’s love and kindness in the monasteries in which he served and his passing is a wound in the Province, cured by the knowledge that he will have us all in his heart as he enjoys the love of his Lord in Heaven. He went to the Lord on June 21st 1997 aged 84. May he rest in peace.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.