Fr. OSMUND of the Holy Cross (Maguire) The BUILDER OF Mt. ARGUS Monastery, his family name was John Maguire. He was born at Blacklion, Co. Fermanagh, about 13 miles SW of our present retreat at the Graan. That was on 20th June 1831. His parents were later brought over to Broadway to be the teachers of our new Primary School there, and they lived in St. Joseph’s House. John entered the Novitiate when he was 20 years old, as a Brother postulant. But, he was later changed over to the clerical Novitiate, and was professed as such, by Papal dispensation, on 30th September 1852. One of his fellow Novices was Cfr. Charles Pakenham, who was Cross-bearer at the opening of the Primary School. Later they were fellow students in our London house at The Hyde, and they and Fr. Sebastian Keens and Alban Cowley were ordained Sub-deacons there by J. E. Cardinal Wiseman. He was ordained priest about 1855. It is in a letter to him (now in our Archives here) from Fr. Paul Mary Pakenham, then in Rathmines, that we learn that the first Mass in Mount Argus was to be on 15th August 1856. He was then stationed at Sutton. In the September of that year, he was one of the 12 Cps at Mount Argus, being Vice-Rector. When Fr. Paul Mary died, he became Rector pro tempore, and then was made RECTOR by the General Chapter in Rome in 1857. Rector again for 3 years in 1860, and again in 1863, he was sent to be Superior of St. Mungo’s, at the Provincial chapter of 1866. During his Rectorship, the foundation-stone of the present Monastery (South and West wings) was laid. The building was finished in 1863, after 4 years construction work. His Superiorship of 3 years over in 1869, he was succeeded by Fr. Austin Hawke-Sims. He had built St. Mungo’s Church, and now he moved to Irvine, Ayrshire, as P.P., (they were short of priests in those days in the Glasgow Diocese). After two years of backbreaking work he went to England, most likely to our Retreat, at Broadway, Worcs., for from there in 1875 he came to Mt. Argus, so as to see his sister Lizzie, then in danger of death. After 10 days he returned to Broadway. The following year, he was again in Ireland, and giving a Mission in Rostrevor, during which he became very ill, and was removed to the Mount. That was in May. A month later, he was able to go out: he was carried down to the carriage, and enjoyed a short drive. Dr. Leahy Bishop of Dromore made a retreat here, under Fr. Osmund’s direction that month. But July saw him ill again, and Fr. Raymond Disano (a classmate) came from Broadway, at his request, to attend him. Assumption eve he was at death’s door, being assisted in his last moments by all the brethren, as well as a Diocesan priest from Birmingham, a Fr. Dowling. At 4.45 pm he died. Fr. Salvian got the job of going to Fr. Osmund’s sisters’ house with the news. His body was brought to the church and his wake was there: the Dead Office, and a panegyric from Fr. Pacificus. That was Assumption Day. On the 16th, he was coffined; Solemn Requiem Mass was said, Fr. Raymond being the Celebrant, Fr. Julian Brezzo Deacon, and Fr. Jerome Smith Sub. He was buried in our cemetery. His grave is the second from Fr. Charles’s old one nearer the gate, and he shares it with Bro. Benignus McGettigan. Sources: Annals Anglo-Hib. Vol III pp. 174-5 Summary from many sources Archives Item 1974.07.22/002 Sr. Dominic Savio C.P.: Centenary Lecture, Irvine Parish 1975.