Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Michael Palmer 1895 - 1976 OBITUARY NOTICE OF FATHER MICHAEL PALMER, C.P. Early on the morning of February 22nd, 1976 Fr. Michael died a most peaceful and happy death. Although he had reached an advanced age his death was quite unexpected. In fact his final illness lasted only a few hours. Earlier that evening he had been very thrilled by the success of his favourite team. Briefly this is a sketch of his life. He was born in Dublin on June 17th 1895 and was baptised a few days afterwards being given the name Frederick Humphrey Palmer. He was very proud of his native city but was equally proud of his country background. His parents were staunchly Christian and the Palmer family atmosphere was one of deep faith and piety. The Good Catholic home is the nursery of Religious Vocations. This was certainly true of his family. All its members, three in number joined the religious Life. His sister, a Poor Clare nun died November 1974. His brother Fr. Sylvester is a Passionist priest and a member of St. Joseph's Province. Fr. Michael's early education was received at the local National School. At first he had intended to became a Primary Teacher and so in due course he was appointed a Monitor. However God had other work for him and at the age of about fifteen he went to the Passionist Juniorate then situated in Carmarthen, South Wales. In 1911 he entered the Novitiate in St. Gabriel's Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen. He received the Passionist habit on October 27th of the same year. On that occasion he took as his Patroness "The Sorrowful Virgin". For the rest of his life he was known as Michael of the Sorrowful Virgin. On the 28th October 1912 he made his profession. His studies for the priesthood were carried out at St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton, St. Helen's, Lancs and St. Paul's Retreat, Mt. Argus, Dublin. He was ordained to the Priesthood in Dublin on February 28th, 1920. His first appointment as a priest was to the Community at Ardoyne, Belfast. Here he helped in parish work but his chief duty was teaching the postulants. When the Juniorate was established as a separate Institution at Wheatfield House, Crumlin Road, Belfast, Fr. Michael continued his teaching. At first he resided in Ardoyne and travelled to Wheatfield each morning returning in the evening. After some time his Superiors decided that he should take up full time residence in Wheatfield. During his last three years in the Juniorate he held the important office of Director of Students as well as that of Lector and during his last year he was also Vicar. At the Provincial Chapter, June 1932, he was elected Master of Novices - a post he held with great distinction for six years. Altogether the first eighteen years of his priestly life were spent in the education and formation of the young aspirants to the Passionist Life. This was the work for which his is best remembered within the Congregation. Very many members of both St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Provinces look back with gratitude to the years spent under Fr. Michael either as Novice Master, Director of Students or Lector. At the 1938 Chapter he was elected Rector of St. Mary's Retreat, Drum-Mohr, Musselburgh, Scotland. There was a parish, Prestonpans, attached to St. Mary's Retreat, and the Rector was also Parish Priest. These were hard years as World War Two started the year after his appointment. Though still a young man his appearance was quite venerable and he was known affectionately as the “Old Rector". His next move was to Mt. Argus, Dublin. Here he spent nine happy but extremely busy years. He was exceptionally active on the local Apostolate, he conducted many retreats for Religious and Lay people and broadcasted occasionally from Radio Eireann. Afterwards came another spell in The Graan where he was employed as Confessor to the Novices and to the many people who came daily to the Church attached to the Monastery. His next posting was to Coodham - a Retreat and Conference Centre near Kilmarnock Scotland. Between Coodham and Belvedere Hall - where he died Fr. Michael was to spend the remainder of his life. In Coodham he conducted Retreats, did supply work and was Assistant Superior. In Belvedere Hall he was twice Superior and twice Assistant Superior. Fr. Michael was a great priest and a dedicated Passionist. In his younger days he was fond of using the word "thorough" and it was a word which summed up all his life. He was thorough, painstaking and conscientious in preparation for his classes, for his sermons and retreats, in his work of formation and administration. His was a retiring nature yet he was well liked by the people wherever he lived but it is by the domestics and neighbours of Coodham he is remembered with greatest esteem and affection. He will indeed be very much missed by the Congregation and the Province he served so faithfully and unobtrusively. His remains were removed to Mt. Argus where his brother Fr. Sylvester was the Chief Celebrant at the Concelebrated Mass. Fr. Sylvester also recited the prayers at the graveside. May he rest in peace. Amen Signed: Andrew Kennedy, C.P.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.