Father Fortune of All Hallows College, Dublin

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 15, 15 April 1909, Page 567

Father Fortune of All Hallows College, Dublin

The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, Chivilcoy, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the course of n letter to our esteemed Catholic contemporary, the Southern Gross, Buenos Aires, suggests that the forthcoming celebration of the golden jubilee of the Rev. Father Fortune, of All Hallows, Dublin^ should be participated in -by the many bishops "and priests in every land who received tlieii training in that famous missionary college. Father Fortune, the veteran professor, and at one time president of the college, is one of the best known and most distinguished priests associated with college life in any country, and we have no doubt but that his many friends and admirers of his .work all over the world will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity to show their appreciation of his labors on the occasion of his jubilee. Monsignor O'Reilly, in the course of his letter of January 16, says : — ' As your paper exchanges with Catholic journals published in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in Ireland, kindly allow me a little space in order to make a suggestion which, if recommended by you to the courteous attention of your Catholic colleagues, will, I am sure, fall under the notice of those for whom it is intended — the ex-alumni of All Hallows College, Dublin, who are bishops and priests in many lands. It is impossible for me to address them personally, as I do not know their whereabouts and have not a list of their names, but I feel that if the little a. have to say reaches them they will give it a sympathetic hearing for the salce of our common alma mater, and our common affection for one of our oldest friends. I have been lately reminded that it is intended, when the time comes, about the middle of the current year, I believe, to celebrate the golden jubilee of Rev. Fathor Fortune, a veteran professor of All Hallows, and himself an ex-alumnus of the college, a priest whose memory should be cherished by every one who has been liis' pupil, and indeed by all who have ever had the blessing of his friendship. It is not for me to urge the fitness of testifying to the worth of such a character. Fifty years of unselfish service, declining ecclesiastical honors and pre-. ferments, and even resigning those which the voice of the establishment with the sanction of the Irish Hierarchy tad conferred upon him, to devote Ms time and talents to a simple professorship, proclaim more eloquently than words can do the virtues of the man. If steps have already been taken to make the celebration worthy of the occasion I shall be sincerely pleased to be allowed to participate in the manifestation, whatever .form it may assume. If, however, nothing has yet been suggested on behalf of the ex-alumni of our dear old college, I hope a voice from far Argentina — and from one who offers as his apology for the prominent role assumed by him forty-two 'years of work since he left the college — may awaken a fellow-feeling amongst the scattered ex-pupils of Father Fortune, and may animate them with a desire to co-operate in worthily celebrating the golden jubilee of our former professor and friend. Perhaps another reason why tho suggestion might not be thought to come amiss from mo is that had it been made nearer to home it might have come to the knowledge of Father Fortune before anything could be done, and with the modesty, and self-abnegation which have characterised him all his: life he might have demurred. I have only to add that I have- already .forwarded my subscription of one hundred pounds (£100) towards the testimonial which I hope, to see presented to Father Fortune on the occasion of his golden* jubilee.' Commenting on Monsignor O^Reilly's suggestion the Southern Cross says: — a"""'a """' 1 We hope our Catholic exchanges will give publicity to the sympathetic idea of the Monsignore. Father' Fortune, the veteran professor of All Hallows, whose golden jubilee it is proposed to celebrate, has hosts of friends amongst the men he has taught, -who are scattered the world over ; and the suggestion made, or rather the initiative taken, by Monsignor O'Reilly will, we are sure, meet with general approval amongst Father Fortiine's reverend ex-pupils. To send out missionary priests "to tho exiled Irish is first of all the roison d'etre of All Hallows, and to form the minds of those priests on the lines best suited to their great and holy labors has been the life-work of Father Fortune. As there -was no time to communicate with his brother priests the world over, whose addresses he does not even know, and , as Father Fortune might demur were the matter brought to" his knowledge, Monsignor O'Reilly has made iise of our columns to send his message abroad- We beg to bespeak for it tho editorial courtesy beyond the seas which the good Monsignore's kindly thought deserves.'