BROTHER GERARD (POWER), C.P. Just a week after the death of Brother Denis, the Province of St. Patrick lost another familiar figure when Brother Gerard (Power), C.P., after an. illness of many months, was called to his everlasting reward on May 7th. Born in Kilquade, Co. Wicklow, on October 20th, 1879, Thomas Power was twenty-six years of age when he entered the Passionist Novitiate at Broadway, Worcs. After his religious profession on March 20th, 1908, he was a member of the communities at Highgate, London, and at Broadway until he was finally transferred in 1919 to St. Gabriel’s Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen, where he was a familiar figure for almost thirty years. His chief duty was to train the lay-brother novices in cooking, and every Brother Cook can still remember his first steps in culinary knowledge under Brother Gerard’s able tuition. Indeed his patience must often have been sorely tried by the awkwardness of succeeding generations of novices who were sent in turn to “help” in the kitchen. But Brother Gerard’s smiling good humour never varied, whilst he maintained his imperturbable demeanour despite domestic mishaps. A keen cyclist, Brother Gerard was a familiar figure on every high-road for miles around Enniskillen. His regret was apparent when advancing years compelled him to restrict his favourite exercise. But for the most part Brother Gerard preferred the seclusion and the retirement of the monastery. At community exercises, his reverent demeanour and recollected air indicated his deep piety. He supported the severe sufferings of his last illness with exemplary patience, and accepted death with edifying resignation. R.I.P. (The Cross, Vol. XXXVII, 1946-47; p. 47) . j OBITUARY BROTHER GERARD OF 8T. JOSEPH On the 7th. of May 1946 Brother Gerard of St. Joseph died a holy and a peaceful death. Before becoming a Passionist, he was known as Thomas power. Born at Kllquade in the Co. Wlcklow in 1879, he entered our Novitiate at Broadway in 1906, and was duly professed there on March 20th. 1908. The first year of his religious life were spent in England, where he filled with no ordinary success the offices assigned to him. Transferred to St. Gabriel’s Retreat in 1919, he remained there until his death. During that time he filled more than one office, and always with the same quiet efficiency. For several years he was in charge of the kitchen, and it was a proud boast and a hallmark of perfection for those who trained under him to be able to say that they were “Brother Gerard Novices”. Of a retiring disposition, he loved solitude and silence whether in his monastery or outside of it, and yet withal, he was bright and cheery, and his hearty laugh will be remembered by all who knew him. In his quite and unassuming way he moved about his a dally duties almost unnoticed and yet leaving a deep impression on all who came in contact with him,- the impression of a gentle soul performing his allotted task conscientiously and efficiently. – One has no qualms in saying that Brother Gerard was an excellent Religious and a real Passionist. His spirit of obedience, his love of prayer, his unfailing charity,- all told that he was a man of God, and a worthy son of St. Paul of the Cross. If one were asked what was it that distinguished him as the gentle soul he was, what urged him to love silence and solitude, or what made him so obedient, so prayerful, so charitable, immediately one must answer, his deep humility. Brother Gerard was essentially a humble man. From the very outset of his religious life he understood humility; and in hiding himself in the Heart of his Crucified Master, he learned to despise himself, and to think first and foremost of his Passionist vocation. His gentleness, his obedience, his spirit of prayer and charity were the natural blessings of a humble heart. He accepted a lingering illness with great fortitude and with calm resignation humbly awaited death. In such as Brother Gerard we were privileged to meet the Christian ideal man. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen, (Signed) Terence of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor(Rector).