Obituary Notice
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Fr. Sebastian Slean ( St OBITUARY © 7 Very Rev. Fr. Sebastian, .(Slean), C.P. | + te Tiel Province Or the Passiomsts has pogrom of Catholics reached its height. The Ardoyne district became a danger zone; in the - suffered an immeasurable Joss in the death of Very Rev. Fr. Sebastian of the Immacn- late Conception; which took place'on Sunday, “September 5th, after a brief illness. Born in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, on April 2Ist, 1867, Felix Slean entered the Passionist Congregation when he was tweuty-one years of agé, taking the name of Sebastian of the Im- niactilate Cotiception. He made his religious profession ou St. Patrick’s Day, 1889, and was - ordained at St. Anne’s Retreat, Sutton, Lancs, on September 8th, 1894: : His. great strength of character was im- niediately recognised by his election as Master of Novices in 1896, a charge usually entrusted to a priest of mature years and wide spiritnal experience. Frou that date onwards he was ; hardly ever free from the cares of ‘office. °QOn__ the expiry of lis six years as Master of - Novices —in 1902, le was ap- pointed Pro-Pro- vincial of the Passionist Re- treats in Austra- lia, where he remained until 1908. Returning home he .was elected Rector of (1908-14) , Second Consultor (1914- 20), Rector © of Ardoyne (1920- 23), agnin Mount Argus (1923-26). On the: erection : of the new Ivish Province_of St. Patrick in 1927, he was ap- pointed Provincial, and held that. office util 1935. This was undoubtedly thé crowning work of his great career; for it is impossible to over- estimate the value of his labours in those formative years, so critical in the evolution of a uew Province. This work was recognised by Most Rev. Fr. General, who, when the time came when Fr. Sebastian might legitimately séek some rest from his life-long. labour for the Congregation, bestowed upon hin the honorary title of Provincial Consultor. The fate Fr. Sebastian (Stean), 6.P.” The bare recital of his official posts does seant | justice to the. indefatigible labours of Fr. Sebas- r tian. - Th 1913 he. organised the famous ‘ Ovada h Bazaar’? at the R.D.S. Grounds, Ballsbridge, “to liqtiddte the debt which for iany years: had encumheted Mount Argus. Duritig his Belfast Rectorshijp, _the reign of terror andthe -Mount Argus’ parish rhany lives were lost and much property destroyed ; volleys of rifle-fire were discharged into the monastery grounds, and the church itself- threatened. with destruction. - In those anxious days Fr. Sebastian was a tower of strength. The church servives were carried ont as usual. his conrage and example were of imméise assistunce to the sorely tried parish. As first Provincial df the Irish Province, fr. Sebastian had another’ heavy task. Again he did. not flinch from the biden. By example even more than by precept, he went before all in the observances of Rule aid in Passionist spirit and vocation. To his exertions was due the foundation of the new Retreat at Drom- moht, Musselburgh, Scotland, to which the name was given Retreat of the finmacilate Conception. Hig interest extended to every Passionist activity—-the missions aud retreats, the. contses of study, the regulation and im- provement of the monasteries, the financial affairs of the Province. But his - primary interest was always in the spiritual progress of his subjects, and to this all else was sub- ordinated. so Thoroughness and attention. to detail were characteristic. of all his undertakings. | He never read a beok without taking copious notes in small neat seript. This practice he continued to the very end of his Hife, remarking with humble frankness: ‘ (’m not too old to learn.” Although inclined to severity in his catlier years, he was scrupulously just; he coukt be kindly and sympathetic when need arose, and he was absolutely without Iman respect. Tf he thought anything was amiss he would uot hesitate to call the attention of the Rector to it with the same impertucbable demeanour that that he would use to correct a young lay- brother. He was the enemy of slip-shod methods, and would rarely excuse carelessness; straightforward and direct in all his dealings with others, he expected the same directness im return, His personal spiritual life was. both siinple and profound. At times of prayer, his habitual air of recollection became more marked. To the last day of his life, he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice at an early hour, following. his liabi- tual custom. Althongh for some years past he had not been in the best of health, he would seek no dispensation but continned | that serupulous attention to the regular observance that had distinguished him from the beginning. With his death there coines-a deep sense of personal joss; but his courage and his example will be remembered as an inspiration by, those amongst whom he svorked avd lived. -We shall not soon see his like again. May he enjoy the reward-of his labours. R.LP. i ts, ‘ 867 198
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.