OBITUARY NOTICE of BROTHER STANISLAUS McCONVILLE, C.P. On Sunday, July 4th, a well-known and beloved figure was removed from the community of St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, when with tragic suddenness death claimed Brother Stanislaus of Our Lady of Sorrows at the age of sixty-one years. He had been in his usual good health that morning and had assisted at the community exercises. At about 4.30 in the afternoon he suffered a sudden attack of coronary thrombosis and died within a few seconds. It was with a sense of deep shock that various members of the community, returning to the house after Sunday ministries, were greeted with the news “Brother Stanislaus is dead!” A native of Belfast, where he was born in 1903, John Patrick McConville as he was formerly known always retained a strong sense of affection for his native city. He was still very young when he applied for admission to the Passionist Congregation and was accepted as a postulant. He made his religious profession at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, the Graan, Enniskillen on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th., 1920. He had not yet reached his seventeenth birthday. As a young brother, he filled the office of sacristan at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, and subsequently was attached to St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcs. On the division of the former Anglo-Hibernian Province, Brother Stanislaus came to Dublin about 1928, where he again acted as sacristan for some time. Subsequently he was appointed Quester for St. Paul’s Retreat, an office which he filled with diligence and fidelity for many years. In the retreat Brother Stanislaus placed himself without reserve at the service of his brethren. Utterly unsparing of self, he was unwearying in dealing with the manifold tasks that were entrusted to him. From early morning when he placed the daily newspapers in the community recreation until late at night when he checked visitors’ rooms to see if anything further were needed his energy appeared to be inexhaustible. Whenever distinguished visitors came to the retreat, it was always his privilege to see that the necessary preparations were made in advance. At successive Provincial Chapters, he made it his business to see that nothing was wanting to the Capitular Fathers. Carefully and methodically under the Rector’s supervision, he checked each individual room to see that all was provided for the comfort of the visitors. “How kind he was when one was visiting!” wrote one on hearing of his death; “nothing to add to one’s welcome was too much trouble to him”. Indeed Brother Stanislaus seemed incapable of refusing any request, no matter how importunate or untimely, and his smiling and ready willingness made it almost seem that he was receiving a favour rather than granting one. Often and often after a hard and wearying day spent on the quest he would return to the retreat to find that in his absence further duties had been set aside for his attention. “Ask Brother Stanislaus to look after it” seemed to be a magic formula for getting awkward jobs attended to, but such unremitting toil undoubtedly took its toll. His own spiritual life was as unobtrusive as it was solid. To his devotions he brought the simplicity of a child together with a mature perception of his duties as a religious. His great love for the Congregation was an outstanding feature of his character. Often he spoke with feeling of the good old brothers who had gone before him, and of the edification they gave him in his younger days in religion. He never even suspected for a moment that he was giving a similar example himself to the next generation. More that one hundred Passionists from both St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Provinces, including Very Rev. Fr. Ambrose, C.P., Provincial of St. Joseph’s Province, attended the obsequies at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. Despite the fact that the newspaper strike was in progress and that many were therefore unaware of his sudden death, the funeral was attended by a large number of mourners. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Valentine, C.P., Provincial, after which interment took place in the adjoining monastic cemetery. May he rest in peace. St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. Signed: Aidan of the Immac. Heart of Mary. Rector. REV. BROTHER STANISLAUS (McCONVILLE), C.P. 0n Sunday, July 4th, a well-known and beloved figure was removed from the community of Mount Argus when death suddenly claimed Rev. Bro. Stanislaus (McConville), C.P., at the age of sixty-one years. He had been in his usual health that morning, and had assisted at the community exercises. At about 4.30 in the afternoon he suffered a sudden attack of coronary thrombosis and died within a few seconds. A native of Belfast, where he was born in 1903, the late Brother Stanislaus made his religious profession at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen, on March 17th, 1920. As a young brother, he filled the office of sacristan at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, and subsequently was a member of the community at Broadway, Worcs. On the division of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, Bro. Stanislaus came to Dublin about 1928, where he again acted for some years as sacristan. Subsequently he was appointed Questor for St. Paul’s Retreat, an office which he fulfilled with diligence and fidelity for many years. Brother Stanislaus placed himself unreservedly at the service of his brethren. Unsparing of self, he was unwearying in dealing with the manifold tasks that were entrusted to him. When distinguished visitors came to the Retreat, it was always his privilege to see that all necessary preparations were made in advance. Indeed, he seemed incapable of refusing any request, no matter how importune and untimely, and his smiling and ready willingness made it almost seem that he was receiving a favour rather than granting one. His energy appeared to be inexhaustible, and of him, it. can truly be said that he is irreplaceable. ‘We shall not look upon his like again.’ More than one hundred Passionists from both St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Provinces, including Very Rev. Fr. Ambrose, C.P., Provincial of St. Joseph’s Province, attended the obsequies at St. Paul’s Church, Mount Argus. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Valentine, C.P., Provincial. The interment took place in the adjoining monastic cemetery. May he rest in peace. (The Cross, Vol. LVI, 1965-66; p. 103)