Obituary Notice
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Fr. Victor Laughran: (1898-1948) OBITUARY. FR. VICTOR OF THE SEVEN DOMOURS . In mahy parts of Ireland and Scotland deep sorrow was felt and expressed when on May 20th. I948 it was announced that Fr,Victor, Passionist, was dead. To those who had been unaware of his short but fatal illness the sad news came as a great shock. Only six months previously, Dec.cdrd. 1947, he had celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the Priest— hood. Quitely happy amongst his religious brethern during the festive: celebrations of that grand occasion, Fr.Victor had been the humble recipient of numerous good wishes and deserved tributes. Even the most astute observer could not have suspected that the Angel of Death was hovering round the Jubilarian on that happy day. Yet on May 30th. of this year after recieving two strokes within the short space of one month, he was summoned on the sunday within the Octave of Gorpus Christi to meet the Master in whose service he had spent himself. His death, holy and peaceful, took place in St.Raphael 's Nursing Home, tdinburgh, in the presence of the Nursing Sisters, V.Kev.Fr.Rector and Rev, Fr,Patrick. | Patrick Daughran was born in the parish of Holy Cross: Ardoyne, Belfast on Dec.2nd. 1898. On the completion of his secondary education in the Christian Brothers Schools he concieved the imtsa desire to consecrate himself to the service of God in the Passionist Congregation. Revealing his intentions to our Superiors he was judged fworthy aspibant for our Novitiate. Accordingly he recieved the holy habit of the Passion on July 28th. I9I6, at St.Gabriel 's Retreat, knniskillen. The name given him was Victor. The Devotion or Title he chose was " The Seven Dolours ". On July 29th. of the following year he made his religious profession. And on Dec.24rd, 1922 he was ordained Priest at the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. . . Fr.Victor 's twenty-five years in the priesthood represent a period of solid spiritual achievement. Karnestly | and fruitfully he employed the powers conferred upon him when he became an " Alter Christus ", To be a priest was for Fr. |
Viotor to live by Christ *s life and to impart that life to others. Hence the singleness of purpose, the marked and remarkable earnestness, the unwearying efforts, the industry and sympathy that everywhere accompanied his quest for souls. No wonder that -he was so much sought after by the wayward and the weal, the needy and the poor, the despondent and the suffering Of these there were many in the Gity of Glasgow which was the sphere of his labours for the greater part of his priestly life. For almost twenty years he gave himself in unstinted service to the people of St.Mungo 's parish, They were years when these when these people neevied mich a priest with the courage and zeal of ifr. Victor. He was with them during the trying years of depression between two wars, Around him on everey side were suffering andhhardship, unemployment and misery. For all so heavily laden, Fr. Vicotr's staunch faith and inspiring courage were a source of strength and hope. In vaeious capacities Ir, Victor served well the Congregation which he loved. while stat- , toned at Se eng he held for a-consitterable time the office of Vicarship. Possessed of a splendid orotund voice he conduct- ed many very success ful m issions in both [reland and Scotland. As a preacher he was most convincing because of the earnestness of soul he revealed. His words and prayers touceHed the heart. and it is true to say that none could hear him preach or pray without being made God-conscious and reverential. When Fr, Victor was appointed to look after the parish at Drum-Mohr, St. Mungo's loss was Drum-Mohr's gain. However the Comunity and the Parish at brum-~Mohr weree+ to benefit by his example and labours only for a few months. But that time was sufficient to endear him to all inside and outside the Retreat. His brethren will always remember him as a man of prayer, a man who amidst increasing parochial activities maintained a true sense of values, always placing first things first. He remember- ed at all times that as a religious he was not his own master an d in everything he depended on the direction of his superiors whom he obeyed more humbly and indeed more readily than the best of novices, fhe vast congregation of young and old that assembled at St. Mungo'ts for the Requiem Mass and funeral was evidence, if evidence were needed, of the admiration and esteem in which Fr, Victor was held, His body was laid to rest near the scene of his many activities, midst the people he had learned to love and for whom he had untiringly laboured,
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.