
Brother Francis Moore C.P. On November 25th, the death occurred after a prolonged illness of Brother Francis Moore, C.P. A native of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, where he was born on May 12th, 1893, the late Brother Francis made his first acquaintance with the Passionist Fathers at St. Gabriel’s Retreat. He was in his early twenties when he sought admission to the novitiate where he made his profession on July 16th, 1920. For some years he was stationed at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus but later he was transferred to Ardoyne, Belfast, where he spent the remainder of his religious life. He travelled extensively around the North of Ireland, engaged in the work of questing for the Retreat. His death at the age of seventy-two years is a severe loss to the Province of St. Patrick. (The Cross, Vol. LVI, 1965-66; p. 189) Obituary Notice of the late Bro. Francis, C.P., Province of St. Patrick On November 25th 1965, the death occurred in Dublin, after a prolonged illness of brother Francis Moore, C.P. For the last few years of as mortal life he was cared for by the Brothers of St John of God. To this Passionist Brother, tired after labouring for so long for his Congregation, those apostles of the sick gave their unstinted care and solicitude. As the mortal remains of this Soldier of the Cross were born in funeral procession from their nursing home these men impressed all present by the dignified manner in which this last tribute was paid. Brother Francis was born in Enniskillen on May 12, 1893. After leaving school he worked for some time and was a constant visitor at St Gabriel’s Retreat, The Graan. Buy the age of 24 he had decided that in the consecrated life of a Passionist lay brother he could best serve God and his fellow men. As a novice he was exemplary and even at that point in his religious life he showed that he had grasped ( through his prayer, his thoughtful reading and his former regular visits to The Graan) the inner meaning other Passionist vocation. He made his profession and the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel 1920. For a short time he continued in Enniskillen before being transferred to St Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus Dublin. His labours in Dublin were to last only a few years. Then came the call from his superiors to take up residence in Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. It was here he spent the rest of his fruitful apostolate, before finally having reluctantly to give up all activity. It is here, both by the community and by the people, that he was best known and remembered with kindness and gratitude. Humility was the virtue above all by which this member of St Patrick Province will be remembered. Nobody could ever have known from his lips the extent of his labourers in the apostolate or the material assistance that he was responsible for rendering to Holy Cross Retreat. For all priests, in spite of their human weaknesses, he had the most profound respect, because his strong and deep faith saw above and beyond all human frailty to their sharing in the priesthood of Christ Himself. Because of his intense love for God he had a great love for his fellow men. He knew that charity must first be shown to members of one’s own household. He never at any time complained that he had too much to do, and, in fact, he was a constantly at the beck and call of the members of its community. He seldom waited to be asked to do an act of charity. He saw where the need lay and was at the service of the brethren as if by an intuitive grasp of their very wish. Up to 1958 he worked untiringly and in the very midst of that work he collapsed and was shortly unconscious. For some months he rested from his almost lifetime labour of questing, but, even as he rested he hoped and prayed that he would soon be fit to resume the work he loved. While he was never really well again, as soon as he felt somewhat better he resumed the work that he loved so well. Within 12 months he was forced by sheer physical exhaustion and on medical advice to give up entirely the active life of questing to which he had so devoted his energies. Even after this he still busied himself with many tasks within the Monastery. In October 1962, needing special attention, he was placed on the care of the Alexian Brothers in Warrenpoint. Later, however, his illness became such that his Superiors felt that he needed treatment that could best be given in Dublin. The ordinary people among whom he worked in his questing, especially those living in the country in Northern Ireland, eagerly looked forward to his visits. He came to them with a kindly heart and a readiness to listen to their problems and he never left any home without giving his consoling advice. He spoke little of his great work in this sphere and so the fullness of his achievements are known to God alone. In his death of the Province of St Patrick has lost a devoted follower of St. Paul of the Cross and the people of Northern Ireland a genuine and sympathetic friend. Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast.