Obituary Notice of Brother Hilarion McGuinness C.P. A religious, returning after Mass from St. Winifred’s Convent, on the morning of 19th March, 1966, wondered why there should be two fire engines, an ambulance and three police cars outside the Retreat. He was soon to learn the reason. Brother Hilarion had died earlier that morning as a result of a fire in his room. Though the Community had been up and about from 6 a.m., nothing amiss was noticed until 8 a.m. approximately, when Brother’s room was found to be on fire. When Brother was eventually brought out, Dr. Lennon, who had been called, certified him as being dead for at least four to five hours. It was a tragic end for a religious who had shown such care and devotion to the sick and dying, throughout his life. It was the Feast of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and of the dying. Brother Hilarion McGuinness was born in Belfast on the 31st August, 1898. As a boy he served on the altar at Clonard Monastery. Yet when called by God to serve Him in religion, it was the Passionist Congregation he entered. He was professed on the 25th August, 1915 at the Graan, Enniskillen. After profession he was sent to Broadway and later to Mount Argus. It was in 1920 that he came to St. Anne’s, Sutton where he was to spend the next twelve years as the Brother Quester. In this apostolate he rendered untold material assistance to St. Anne’s, and endeared himself to people and clergy alike of the Liverpool Diocese. Towards the end of his life, it was a source of great joy (and amusement) to him, when people and clergy who came to visit the Tomb of Blessed Dominic, told him they remembered the old Brother Hilarion of the 1920’s. When St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Blythe Hall was obtained, Brother was set to prepare it for the first Community. Whilst there, he played no small part in the founding of the Woods Trust, which has been such a financial help to St. Gabriel’s over the years. When St. Non’s was founded, Brother was again sent to prepare it for the opening ceremony. At various times Brother was stationed in almost every Retreat of the Province. Wherever he was placed, he quickly adapted himself to his new surroundings and gave himself unsparingly to the work of that Retreat. But it is in Sutton and Herne Bay that he will be remembered best. The outbreak of World War II saw him stationed in Herne Bay, where he became known and loved by the whole town, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. He was never of a strong constitution and it was after the war that his health finally broke down. For some seven years he was to undergo operations and treatment in sanatoria and hospitals. Remembering his frail body, one wonders how he survived so much surgery. Suffering was yet another aspect of his apostolate. In 1958 he returned to his beloved St. Anne’s, Sutton. Although it was obvious to all that his health had failed, yet he never admitted that fact. He was never happier than when he could help in the Community, whether it was answering the door bell, the telephone or working in ‘his counting house’. He had the privilege, not given to many, either priest or brother, of celebrating his Golden Jubilee in 1965. Brother Hilarion was first, last and always a Passionist. He had many fine qualities and of these, his love for his Mother the Congregation was outstanding. His simple Faith and childlike trust in God and His Holy Mother, attracted people to him and enabled them to confide in him in their difficulties and trials. Though suffering so much himself, or perhaps because of it, he had the kind, the cheerful, the consoling word always for those in trouble. To God alone is known the many souls he directed to the Confessional and the many souls he was instrumental (under God), in bringing into the True Fold. In his tragic death, St. Joseph’s Province has lost one of its great characters, and an ardent lover of our Mother the Congregation. May he rest in peace.