THE LATE FATHER HEADEN, MOSGIEL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 9, 27 February 1902, Page 6

THE LATE FATHER HEADEN, MOSGIEL.

When penning the paragraph which appeared in our last issue to the effect that the Rev. Father Headen, 8.A., had undergone a surgioal operation, little did we think chat we should be called upon to write his obituary notice for thi9 number. Such, however, is our sad duty, for the gifted young prießt passed to his eternal reward at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday at Holy Cross) College, Mosgiel. For some time prior to his death Father Headen had been in indifferent health. After returning from an extended holiday in Queenstown, his medical advisers deemed an operation necessary for the purpose of removing an internal growth. The last Sacraments were, by his request, administered, and the operation took place on Tuesday of last week, and although it was a very critical one, hopes were entertained that the rev. gentleman would recover. He rallied bravely for a time, but on Thursday morning it became apparent that he was sinking, and, aa previously stated, the end came some hours later. The late Father Headen was born in Kilkenny in 1875, hia father being head inspector of National schools. After a time his parents removed to the North of Ireland, when young Headen entered St. Malachy's College, Belfast. Here he read with considerable distinction classics and rhetoric, and studied mathematics, winning some exhibitions and miny prizes in the intermediate examination?. About 18!>4 he entered Clonliffe College, which is the eoclesianioal college of the Archdiocese of Dublin. Here again he had a brilliant career, winning high prizes when not actually leading his class. In 1896 he obtained the degree of B.A. in the .Royal Univeieity of Ireland. In the following year he joined the Theology Class in Clonliffe, and during his time at the college he gave every promise of a bright and brilliant future. He was ordained priest at Clonliffe on Christmas Eve, 1891). Soon after his ordination he accompanied his Lordship Bishop Verdon to Dunedin, arriving here on April 4, 1900. On. the opening of Holy Cross College on the 3rd of the following May, he was appointed to the professorial staff, fulfilling the duties appertaining thereto with much success, and to the great satisfaction of the Rector, the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon. His last momenta were oousoled by the miniatrationa of his Lordship Bishop Verdon, Rev. Fathers Murphy, Ryan, and O'Neill. On Friday afternoon the remains were brought from Mosgiel to Dunedin by roa^. accompanied by some twelve of the deceased's fellow-clergy. When nearing Dunedin the procession was met by a number of the townspeople, and in the city the Christian Brothers' boys marched at the head of it to St. Joseph's Cathedral, where it arrived about 6.30 pm. The remaina were met at the main entrance to the sacred edifice by his Lordship the Bishop and several of the clergy who had come from a distance to take part in the obsequies. The coffin was borne from the hearse to a catafalque immediately in front of the high altar by a number of priests of the diocese. On the following morning at 10 o'clock the Solemn Office for the Dead was recited, after which a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, Right Rev. Mgr. Mackay being assistant priest, Rev. Father O'Reilly deacon, Rev. P. O'Neill subdeacon, and Rev. M. Ryan master of ceremonies. The music incidental ti the Mass was sung by a choir of Dominican Nuns. In addition to those alrealy mentioned the following clergy were present in the sanctuary : Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary (Lawrence), Very Rev. J. J. O'Donnell (Ashburton), Rev. Fathers Murphy, Cleary, and O'Malley (Dunedin). Key. Father Coffey (South Dunedin), Rev. Father McMullen (Naseby). Rev. Father McGrath (Port Chalmers), Rev. Father Lynch (Palmerston South), Rev. Father Howard (Milton), Rev. Father Delaney (Oatnaru), Rev. Father Geary (Lawrence). The interment took place on Saturday afternoon in the Catholic portion of the Southern Ceniete'y. The boys of the Christian Brothers' School, in charge of Rev. Brother Fogarty, headed the funeral procession. These were followed by the pupils of St, Dominic s College, aftor which came a number of carriages containing his Lordship the Bishop, and the clergy. After the hearse came a large procession of mourners on foot acd in carriages. At the cemetery the remains were borne to the graveside by a number of the clergy. His Lordship the Bishop conducted the burial service, and was assisted by all the clergy present. At the conclusion of the service the grave closed over the mortal remains of a young priest of much promise who was greatly beloved by all who knew him, and whose demise is a great loss to the dioce a e. Bishop Veldon and Rev. Father M. Rvan, of Holy Cross College, received many telegrams and letters of condolence from Bishops, priests and laymen in all parts of the Colony expressive of their sympathy at the demise of Father Headen. — Ji.I.P.

On Sunday evening in St. Joseph's Cathedral Rev. Father Murphy, Adrn , referred in very fesling terms to the sad loss sustained by the diocese of Dunedin, and especially Holy Cross College, by the death of Father Headen. After High Mass at the Cathedral Mr. Vdllip, the organist, played Chopin's ' Funeral March,' and in the evening the Dead March m ' Saul ' out of respect to the memory of the deceased. In St. Patrick's Basilica, Sou:h Dunedin, affectionate and eulogistic referencis were also made regarding the deceased by Rev. Father O'Reilly. The i\ev. Father M. Ryan celebrated Macs at Allanton on Sunday. At the coiidusion of the service he made sympathetic reference to the death of Fu'her Headen. Father Ryan had been a"-sooia'ed with the decea-ed priest at Holy Cross College for the lat-t two years, and he felt very much the sad event. He said Father Headen had a great love for his people, and he hoped they would remember him in their prayers. The congregation, were visibly affected by the heart-spoken reference of Father Ryan to his

late friend and comrade, and the strange silence in the little church, broken only by an occasional sob, told more plainly than words the grief of the congregation. Feeling refererce was made by Rev. Father P. O'Neill in his sermcn at the Mosgiel Catholic Chur ;h on Sunday to the death of Father Headon. The preacher, in a iking for the prayers of the congregation, referred to the deceased priest's amiable qualitie l^ and reminded the people that while he aad his brother priests knew Father Headen merely aa a friend, the Mosgiel parishioners were more intimately associated with him as a sharer in their joys and sorrows. The audible sobs testified to the loss the people had sustained, and the appreciation the Mosgiel congregation had for Father Headen. Father O'Neill took occasion to refer to the uncertainty of death and incidentally remarked that God plucked the choicest flowers to beautify His garden. He concluded by exhorting hia hearers to follow Father Headen'a example in life and in death.