Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
“Fr. SEBASTIAN Enrico (1827-1881). Sebastian Enrico CP [1827-1881] a Oe ee ee) Extract from Salvian Nardocci's Annals of the Anglo- Hibernian Province, volume 1, folios 45 to 47. [entry for 14 February 1846 - the date of clothing of Sebastian Enrico at Monte Argentario:] Clothing of F.. Sebastian of the Purification (Enrico) at Monte Argentarmd®. He came to England, from Bordeaux, in 1881, when the poor religious had to leave their monasteries and seek refuge in other countries. At last the poor refugee was run over by an express train at St Helen's Junction on the 16th of November 1881. (He had come from Boulogne.) As we may have no occasion of speaking again about F. Sebastian, we shall insert here the account of the shocking fatality given by St Helen's news paper. {the entry then reproduces. an extract from the local newspaper;] "On Wednesday, November 16th, the Revd F. Sebastian Enrico met his deathina most shocking manner at St Helen's Junction. The revd. gentleman arrived at the station about ten o'clock with the intention apparently of taking train for Liverpool. About the same time two trains arrived at the Junction, one from Manchester to Liverpool, and the other from Liverpool to Manchester. Without apparently perceiving the Manchester express, which was travelling rapidly, F. Sebastian attempted to cross the line. A porter, observing the danger to which he was exposed, shouted to him not to cross, but the warning cametoo late; he seemed to see his perilous position, and before he could recover from the perplexity to which it gave rise, the engine of the express struck him, knocking him into the fourfoot [?], and killing him instantaneously. The whole train passed over him with the most terrible result, the body being torn and cut. to pieces, and part of it scattered along the line. The remains were carefully collected, and placed ina large sheet, and carried to the Commercial Hotel. A number of gentlemen were on the platform, when the accident occurred, and as may be supposed, were greatly affected by it. The express was stopped as soon as possible after the occurrence, but almost immediately afterwards resumed its journey to Manchester. One of the railway officials picked up a golden token and half-a-crown. The deceased gentleman was an Italian by birth and early education. Having finished his studies, he was sent to France at the age of 23 where he labouredas a missionary priest for thirty years. About twelve months ago, while stationed at Boulogne~sur-Mer, he was like hundreds of
other priests of the Regular Orders cruelly expelled. He decided to seek a home in England for, as he used to Say, he had been so long away from his native place in Italy, that he would know scarcely one if he returned to it. When forced to leave Boulogne he made [sic] to the headquarters of the Passionists in London, St Joseph's, Highgate, and there he remained for nearly nine months. When he arrived in England he knew little or nothing of the English language; but. by diligence he had so far overcome this difficulty that on Sunday, the 6th instant, he preached in English at Sutton for the first time; but up to the time of his unfortunate death, he was unable to speak colloquially ‘in English. He was known in the neighbourhood as the French priest, and was well liked and respected by those to whom he had become known during his residence of some three months at the Monastery. He was up early, as is the Rule at the Monastery, on the fatal morning and at half past six offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. After breakfast he obtained leave of absence for a few hours, and went to the station presumably for the purpose of going to Liverpool, when the unfortunate accident occurred which cost him his life. On the evidence of his passport, which had been found amongst his papers, he was about 54 years of age." [the entry continues: ] On the following day after the accident an Inquest was held, and the Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. His mangled body was buried in the church yard, closeto our Retreat of St Anne, Sutton. a |
PASSIONISTEN Mechelsesteenweg 82 1970 WEZEMBEEK-OPPEM { 8 et pny { / Wezembeek-Oppem, 11/08/03 Rev. Fr. Aidan CP St Joseph’s Retreat Highgate Hill LONDON N19 5NE Dear Father Aidan, I arrived very well at Brussels, but with a retard of three quarters of an hour. Jt was around half past seven (local time) when IJ was at home. I promised You an answer about that rail-accident at St. Hellen’s. The man in question was Fr. Sebastiano della Purificazione (Enrico).. He was an Italian born at Tovofaraldi (diocese of Alberga) on 29th June 1827. He entered the Passionist Congregation and was professed in 1846. On the 26th of June 1854 he came to the French-Belgian Province of St Michael’s at Bordeaux. From 1866 until 1872 he was the superior of the monastery at Hardinghen. In 1871-72 he founded the house at Boulogne-sur-mer and was there also the first superior. Fr. Sebastiano is know as one of the most succesful preachers of that time, and was named the Apostle of the Pas-de-Calais. Because of the anti-clerical laws in France in 1880 he was expelled from France, came to England on the Sth of November. Through an intervention of the Italian Consul in Boulogne Fr. Sebastiano returned in France in January 1881, but after a sermon to the dockworkers at Calais, he was again expelled and returned to England. On the 16th of November 1881 he intended to take the train to Liverpool at St HellewrS Junction; he crossed the rails in a hurry not to miss his train. Going over the first rails he didn’t see on the second rails the Manchester Express passing from the other side in great speed. His body was totally mutilated. This is the story of Fr. Sebastiano. I hope You will be satsfied with that rather pedant historical exposé of mine.. All the best, Fr. Aidan, and my best regards to the Brethren in Highgate. In union of prayers... Yours in Christ crucified, _ 7: en que 4A Fr. Paulinus Vanden Bussche CP.. Hien _ Datriay Col boms poe Doe fe
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.