The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-27
ST. PATR|Ck'S LOSS
Rev. Father Hennessy Died
This Afternoon After
a Long Illness.
TRIBUTE TO AN HoSoRED PRIEST
Stricken With Paralysis He Sue
eumbs Surrounded By
His Friends.
Sketch of a Long and Useful
Life--Parish in Mourn
ing.

The Rev. Patrick HenneSSy, the yener-
able and highly esteemed and beloved
rector of St. Patrick's Church, died
at one P. today. after a lingering illness
which he bore with heroic fortitude and
Christian resignation. This news will
bring sadness to the hearts not only of
his own flock, whose idol he was, but to
people in all classes of society and all
walks of life, without regard to their
religious Affiliations. Farther Hennessy
has been ailing since November, 1894,
when he was prostrated with stroke
of paralysis. He partially recovered after
a few weeks and took a trip to Florida,
where he remained for a few weeks. In
August, 1896, he suffered relapse and
has been disabled from active duty since
that time although not confined to the
house. Until a month or two ago he
was in the habit of taking daily morn
ing and afternoon drives on the Boule-
ward in favorable weather, and it was
thought for time that he was on the
way to the recovery OF his former health
and vigor, but the hope proved fallacious
to the keen disappointment of his friends
and parishioners. 1t has been known
for the last two months that there was
no possibility of his recovery. Father
Hennessy realized that fact himself and
was absolutely resigned to the will of
God, in whose service he had spent the
best years of his life. Last week he be-
came unconscious and on Sunday his
faithful assistants, Fathers Sheehan and
McErlaine, realized that his taking away
was but question of a few hours. They
were deeply affected when at the morning
masses they requested the congregation
to pray for him. Father Hennessy con-
tinued to sink gradually until this after
noon when he died with all the consola-
tions of his religion, which he had
preached and practised so ably and ener-
gebcally during a long and useful life.
At the bedside during his last moments
were Rev. Father Sheehan, Rev. Father
McErlaine, Rev. Father Egan, and the
members of the household. No funeral
arrang gements have been made until
Bishop Wigger is consulted. Probably
the funeral will take place on Saturday.
Father Hennessy would have been
sixty-two years old had he lived until
next St. Patrick's Day. He came to
this country in 1884 with his parents,
and when he became old enough entered
ST. Mary's College, where he graduated
with high honors.
Perhaps no better biography of this
distinguished priest could be given than
the tribute paid him by the clergymen of
the diocese on the occasion of his silver
jubilee on May 3d. 1883. The tribute was
read by the venerable Dean McNulty of
Paterson who had been Father Hen
nessy's intimate friend and associate for
many years. Dean McNulty said
Rev. Father Hennessy-There are occa-
sions in life, which like the milestones on
the highway, make US pause to measure
the road over which we have passed. and
to estimate that which we have before
us. Such an occasion is this completion
of the twenty-fifth year of your holy
priesthood.
No doubt you have ample opportunities
of reviewing this period yourself. Permit
us, nevertheless VINO have labored with
you in the same vineyard to express our
congratulations upon this auspicious oe
casion.
Forty years ago. having undergone the
hardships of eviction in Ireland. and fer
three nights having no roof-tree to cover
you save the canopy of heavens you
sought in company with your, parents
the nospitable shores of this great repub-
Nc.
Awaiting yourself of the advantages Of
Jared for mental culture, you became
prignt scholar at an early age. This
education soon obtained for you lucra-
tive position in a mercantile house. But
like that interior voice which is said to
have haunted your iilustriors patron, ST.
Patrick, you relinquished the world with
its bright prospects and devoted yourself
to the holy ministry. Fair of mien and
stately of gait. l remember well your en-
trance in the year 1854 into Mt. ST. Mary's
College. that far famed nursery of learn
ing and virtue.
There, amidst a galaxy of highly gifted
classmates, many of them now DIS
tinguished both in church and state, you
always held an honorable rank.
Having graduated with distinction in
1859, again YOU are influenced by the spirit
of your holy patron, st. Patrick; sieut
Chr.stiani estis ita ct Roman, you
yearned to imbibe in the Eternal city it.
self that ecclesiastical knowledge. that
pure discipline and that priestly spirit
needed to fit you for a missionary in your
adopted country.
You had the unusual honor conferred
upon you of being selected by our late
lamented Bishop Baylay. of Newark, to
enter the American College then opened
LII Itoi1S, Win tae approval and pleSS-
ing of the sanity Pope P.us TX. Stud
ious by inclination, you drank deeply in
sacred sciences at its source, the far
famed College Of the Propaganda; and at
the end Of Your course in 1868 you re-
ceived tfle order Of holy Priesthood in
the Eathadral of ST. JOHN Lateran al the
hands of MS Esnrsrce Cardinal Patrizzi,
vicar OF oRr sate ftsiy Fa fher Plus TX
Enriched by the spscla1 Blessing OF Pope
Prs IL, You returned home 10 buckle
on the arslor of the good Soldier of Christ
in the vast and ever increasing diocese
OF Newark.
You haG the good fortune of being ap-
pointed assistant Priest to the learned.
urbane and JEALOUS Father John Kelly.
psstor CT St. Peters in THIS city.
With such q past tor, whose zeal led
him 70 offer himself to the work Of corr
veftisg the heather on the burning plains
Of Africa, yGu cculd not fail to iInbibe
the spirit Of charity and ssif-saerifice,
yous could not fail 10 Initiate that SYM
pathy for suffering, that eeaseless s3lici-
tude for his flock whether residing In
his parish, or ernigratmg TO the West.
For was not Jersey City, was not St.
Peters aectory. The entrepot u these