Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Victor Doran (1930-1983) "See that you are dressed for action and your lamps are Tit.” Dear Brother and Sisters, We have come here to say ‘good-bye’ to a person. Many of us have come here many times before to say ' good-bye’ to people in the same way in this same place. This time we have come to say good-bye to some . one we loved and respected, and to pray that we will continue on the. way to where he has gone and also to pray for the strengh to continue on that way untill we aso reach the goal. We know that this man was- this time a priest, and for me a religious brother. We have come to say ‘good-bye' to a person. This person, Victor, was also a priest. But he was first of.al? a person, with the good qualities and the not so good qualities of any of us. He was always optimistic and happy, he was deeply engaged in his work as a priest and always ready to help others, and give them the support they needed. He also had his weakerpoints. He could arange to be in three diff erent places at the same time; and he could drive those reponsible for. organisation and for paper-work silly, as he always promised his paper-work but it never arrived! In the few days 1 have been back here I have tried to listen to what people said about Victor. The things everyone mentions is his laugh. The way one could see it coming. in his face and in his body and then ° the sudden explosion of laughter which so often could put the world to rights again. He could laugh at the idiocies of the world;. at the eccentricities of people and at his own, at the foibles of priests and bisho+ps and of life itself. But that laughter and that optimism which it was so often asign of was not superficial or built on ground of just human nature and a happy
disposition. It was built‘on a deep'fatth ahd hope’ in God and in His will. That was the ground and foundation of why Victer could often laugh at the things which went wrong and continue again to try and try again no matter how often he failed. ee He had success: in the Church. He was twice Superior of the Passionists in Swedeny many tile councellor to the Superior, Dean, meniber of © the Bishop's council and ofthe Priests’ cbuncil. But this is not why Victor is or should be ‘réemenierad. It is because he was a man who -did the Will of the Father. © uO , We are here and we are said perhaps because we have Jost a priest and brother whom we havé loved. I'think that we should examine what our attitude really is.. We are the people who have gone over from death to life, we ‘are a Church of livitig Stones, and Victor is stil] part of that structure as that Church exists’ both within and without of time... The state has changed to Victor but the rélationship is the same, We are not: here to maintain Church structures - netessary and useful as they are} we-are not here to have ahd train good spiritual leaders - good and necessary as they are; we are hot here to have sacraments and masses and services,- good and hecessary as they are, we are here to serve the Lord. This is what Victor has done and is doing. It is what we must cont inue to do and what only we can do. 1 If Victor could now speak to us hé would I am sufe not ask us to mourn but ‘to Tive as he did, eyes on the goal, sure and confident jn the Lord, saying to us with the Lord in todays gospel and certainly introduced by His Taugh: "See that you are dressed for action, and your lamps are lit." - . William Kenney, C.P.
2S ape oe BISHOP BeanoENURG' LETTER RErAd AT tHe FUNERAL. MASS. FORRe vicror cp ‘Dear brothers, dear parishioners ee eee To my great sadness. Tam unable a0 take part in the burial sete oe = for Fr, Victor Doran: together with you. In my. thoughts and. An. mY prayers for Fr. Victor, 1am however: united with you all, Fr. Victor's death has heen a shock for all of us. Norones not it even oe hinself, had even thought that. he would be called away 50. peel ar Our Toss. is Great hecauge wt can no longer have him among. US. We | ghalt remember fyi as 4 faithtul and. dependable brother. Foy many: of us he was the modal. of a priest and religious, one who with all Cog ofis heart and with all his strength dedicated his Tife to the task which his superiors and dioceses where: he, worked for. 50 many years, “entrusted to. him. a ; ae Since Octebar 1982 he arted te gather together ‘the catholic christians = in Angered, a part of Christ the King parish, and examined the. possitility of establishing a new parish there. Together with the. . . Passionist Sisters, he helped many people to renew contact with. the : Church of @ur Lord. Only God knows with what courage and with what faith in God he tackled tits difficult. assignment. he letter which reached me after Fr. Vicotr's death moved. me deeply. Ahoy from a family. ain “Angered said when he heard of Fr. Victor's death: "We mst: honour’ 7 Fr, Vieter's mempry. We must 217 of us here come together and. continue a hig work as far as.we can". One cannot eXDIRSS better _our common task. lam firmly. convinced that. in Fre Victor we. have an. intercessor with pur common Father in heaven aint that he will help us: to continue our ae - work in his spirit $o that Gods. kingdom may grow among mee ‘: 7 Let us touether thank God ‘that Fre vietor could work atnong us: ag _ priest. and religtous for so many years, Let us pray” God that the ‘Seed which he sowed may have a rich harvest, “Tasorrow and gratt tude 1 am united with yoo at), Hubertus Brandenburg.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.