FATHER NORBERT HUGHES, C.P. Father Norbert of the Immaculate Conception, known in the world as William Hughes, was born on 29th October, 1889, in St. Mary’s, Abercrombie Street, Glasgow, a Parish famous for the number of Priests it has given to the Church. As a boy he attended St. Mungo’s Academy. As a result of his early education under the Marist Brothers, Father Norbert all his life long had a filial, childlike devotion to our Blessed Lady. Having passed through this famous School with distinction, especially in Mathematics, and when his thoughts turned towards the Religious Life and Priesthood, what more natural – or supernatural in the event – than that he should seek admission to the Passionists, whose Retreat in Parson Street was next door to ‘The Academy’ ? He entered the Passionist novitiate in Broadway and was professed on 27th September, 1906. After his studies in Mount Argus, leading to the Priesthood, Father Norbert was ordained at Clonliffe College, Dublin, on 1st June, 1912. Thus began for Father Norbert a very full Priestly life which was to continue for more than 50 years. He was stationed at various times in most of the Houses of the then Anglo-Hibernian Province. Wherever he had been, Father Norbert left behind him a vivid memory of friendliness, kindliness, and good humour. So placid and equable was his temperament that he was seldom known to have lost his temper. He was indeed an asset to the community spirit of whichever Retreat he was a member. At a very early stage in his Priestly life, Father Norbert established a reputation as a Missioner and Director of Retreats. Many are the Parishes up and down the country which remember with gratitude his untiring efforts for their spiritual improvement. Religious Communities, men and women, the Secular Clergy and our own Communities benefited from his practical sermons, instructions and advice. Simplicity of style, clarity of argument and logical division of matter made his sermons memorable. In latter years, Father Norbert developed an aptitude to illustrate his points from the knowledge of Sacred Scripture he obtained during his studies in the Holy Land under the celebrated Pere Lagrange. This was particularly so in his Sunday homilies to the people. He made the Gospels live for them by his practical explanation of the various Parables from facts of his own experiences in the Holy Land. Father Norbert also taught Sacred Scripture with marked success to various classes of our students. Many a man owes his love and knowledge of the Bible to the reverence and respect with which, in his lectures to his students, Father Norbert treated the Word of God. Perhaps it was as a Confessor that Father Norbert reached the heights, penitents came to him from far and near and he always dealt with them with kindness, sympathy and understanding. He had a marked facility for understanding one’s particular problem. His advice and help was practical and to the point. He went to endless trouble to restore confidence in a soul and many have spoken of the permanent peace of soul they have obtained after having been to Father Norbert. This facet of his Priestly life can be illustrated by the remark of a recent convert whose first confession Father Norbert was asked to hear, that “if our Blessed Lord spoke with an accent, it must have been with a Scottish accent like Father Norbert’s.” That remark pretty well sums-up the “Alter Christus” in Father Norbert’s Priestly life. Father Norbert continued giving Missions and Retreats until two years before his death. He celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood on 1st June, 1962, at St° Joseph’s, Highgate. Many were the congratulatory messages and good wishes he received from all quarters including a telegram with blessings from our Holy Father, Pope John, XXIII. At the beginning of this year, serious ill-health set in. He was removed to Bethanie Nursing Home, Hornsey Lane, where he was under the care of the Augustinian Sisters of Meaux who nursed him with devoted attention during the course of his illness. Father Norbert immediately set himself to prepare with deliberation and perfect resignation for the end, which he knew with full consciousness was coming. He continued to offer Holy Mass and recite his Divine Office as long as he was able and this was a great comfort and consolation to him. He was so resigned to God’s Holy Will and so happy in his resignation, that it was a spiritual tonic to visit him. Father Norbert died on 3rd June. After Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s, at which most of the Houses of both Provinces were represented, Father Norbert was buried in the new cemetery in the grounds of the Retreat. May he rest in peace.