Obituary Notice
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Fr. Mark Gavin (1868-1935) . THE REV. PATHER MARK GAVIH, 0. Py RelePe - With sores we chientole the denise of The Rev. Father Mowe (Gavin) G+ Ps of the Vil. Dolours, which took ploce ot Holy Crome Retveut, Ardoyne, Belfest, October sth, 1956. Bow tn Dalystoun, %c- Yeebmeath, on tins Bnd Apri, 1068, Yeter Gavin veonived his early education et the Local National School, curing which period the desire of becoming _ @ Papetontet evinoed itself, oni with thia ond in view, he sodygit adaiseion to afd was wooepted as an slums i the Properatory Soheol then attached to Ste Poa's= Rotront, Bount Area, Oablane Heving conpleted the presoribed course of studies there, | Ke pansed to the Novatiate Rouse, St. Seviour's, Broodway, Woraas: and node hie Profession Gh 16th Hay, 1985. Five yeore afterwards, on the: 00h Sephenber, 1000, he wae pulsed to the dignity of the Petesthe — feaetiately arter hte ordinstiton Fe. Mevk was pleoed on the Menionery Staff, for whids ministey he woe adnivebly nenigenss ae powerwul physique, with sonorous voice, with unfiegging #001 for souls, and with hie sermons and lootures montb aavetaty prepereds he fwayed the minds and the hearte ws, of 012 who heord hin, and Sn the Sonfoanionsl he reaped the > stanton fmite of his eloquent end sppealing discourses.
aQe (Be keenly wave his Missionary activities appreciated that Coon the records of cue Miveiona, there ia aoardely & pariah in Ireland ehioh Father Mark did not viekt, sri wherein even t6 todey hie nan, ant fade fom ore reoslied with | feelings of grateful gratitude, That se0i for soule was maintained even to the end, for, when his honith beoane duppdved on account of the constant strain, ond when no Longer eapable of enduring the atronuous deboure we 8 Mteetoner, waye and e@ane were afforded him, under obedience, to oontime his ali consuming desire for the salvation of soule. He never weoried in his attention to the people of the district comitved to bie care, Ha woe a father to all, and exheusted . 21 hie energies in bringing comfort and sonacletion to the suffering and soerowing. Sie lenturea ot one of the principal fiyeaen on Sundey were listened to with abbantion because An them he epeke from hie heert and fron hie wide experdence. He wae the fives to go to hie Confessional and the last to deowe At. Priests, Religtous ond people sought eagerly his e@ainietrations theyein, end sinya bitter tear was shed when sud Learned that thoy were deprived of thedy highly esteoned and equally valued Spiritus’ Director, | Abthough consumed with seni for the spititwual interests of others, be never Jost sight of the ohie® end for which he entered the Oonaregetion, and at won really on thet sooount timt hie labours for others yee #0 blessed by God. Father Mark was # Pawedonist Religious in every sence of the word. Benesth that exter appenranos of cheerfulness and broadmininess, there wae that profound spirit: of Simple
«Bu Faith, and if it my be said, of sorupolosaity with regard to the obligations he took upon himself on the dey of his Holy Frofedeions dJuatus ex fide vivit (Romei.17.) Thie spirit of faith evinoed itself unobtrusively in hie every nat. It was indeed, hie very life. Those whose privilege it was to aot se hie Spiritual direators, realised that he wolked by Faith, ond many 6 tine withdrew, chostened, and with difrioulty repressing the tesra thet welled up in their hearts, | His devotion to the Bleased Sacrament wae thorough, deep, porsonal. Never did he apprposoh the sltar of God, withoud apending the prosordibed time in preperotion and thanke« giving, Whilet offering the Holy Sacrifice, every movement, every nob, every Intonation breathed that deop Spirit of Faith and intensity of devotdons It woo, indead, 4 source of supremdé edification to his Brethren, and to the Faithful to ade the Venerable Prdest, when scarcely able to walk, insisting upon offering the Holy Saorifios eadh morning. In fecb, 4¢ was whilat at the alter he received that selsure to whioh hw sudoumbed fourteen dave lnter., Reolising his physioal weakness, and thet the end wos not for distant, he expressed & wish to receive the last Rites, which were administored, snd from that time until the end come, he tooked forward with anxious desire to the reception of Holy Viatioum eooh mornings The lost food thet psased his Lipa wae "Hie detiy SupersSubstentiel Bread,” and the lest word he ubbered waa "Viatdgum,” the end came on the evening of Ostober the oth.
. a ie The Lrethren had cesenblied on two covesions on thot dey, and the preyers of the Chuvoh were recited by a12, for the third tice at 4650 poms 612 eobhered around hie bedside, end when the prayer were oonploted Father en's Soul hed poased bo Etomity. | His deoth woe & pesoePul treneition from o Life ao a tore Manstonist to on aternity of glory: One of the Fathers renarked, "We hove juat witnesoad the poasing of a Saint." On the kth Ootober the Obsequies took plage. lita Loniahin the BAghop of thie Diocese presided ot the of fice ami Requien High Mase end gave the absolution after Maas. Over sixty seouler prloste were preaont, The Very Key, Father Provinoiols of St. Pabrion's and Sta Joaenn's Provinces, both of whom passed through the Hovitdate with Pathe: Mari: oo Mater of tovdoose Reotore from oloost every Retreat of both Provides, the Comunity of Holy Cross, and the apnolous ohurdh woo £41260 with the Peienguls Hie morte) renaine ore Jedd to vost in cur Little Oometery, beside the beautiful — ehuroh whidh he reared and dedigated to Gnd, and wherein he Laboured for the good of soule. Uhe voioe will be no longor heaed thereins hie wiles counsels in the Cenfeseionnl ore of the past, but his memory wild Lave on in the hoorte of a grateful people, who léved him in life and do not forget hin in deaths | Mey perpetual Iight shane upon him Salou 6 Jeaus bruerpro,
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.