14.March.1890. Province of St. Joseph.
Three days had scarcely passed away since it pleased Our Lord to call to Himself Confrater Theodore when another death as immature and unexpected carried away one of our youngest and most laborious priests. This was Father Edwin of the Sacred Heart who was a cousin to the above-mentioned Conf. Theodore. He was born in Ireland in 1866 and bore the same name as his cousin, Michael Gavin.
Many of his relatives had consecrated themselves to God in religion; some amongst the secular clergy, some to religious life and others had joined our Congregation. When the time arrived for Father Edwin to choose a state of life he resolved to become a Passionist. He was accepted by Father Provincial and entered the Novitiate in Broadway on the 1st of October 1883. During the time of probation he was ever of a genial disposition, condescending, courteous and charitable to all, so much so that he became a favourite with the Superiors and other religious. After his profession he was sent to Sutton to commence the study of Philosophy and being gifted with many talents and diligent and persevering in his studies, by his constant application he completed the whole of the ecclesiastical course in the short space of six years and was ordained priest in June 1889. Afterwards he was sent to the mission in Glasgow.
The parochial work in that large city, where the catholic people entrusted to our care are of the lowest class is not only arduous but likewise carries with it great responsibility.
Father Edwin’s strength and robustness as also his great prudence gave every hope that he would be able to sustain those labours for a long time to come, he, in fact, threw himself into the work with the greatest zeal for the good of those souls confided to his care, sparing himself nothing. The whole of his time and youthful energy were given for the benefit of those people, hence he was loved by all and his exactness in the fulfillment of his duties called forth expressions of gratitude and esteem.
Many years of fruitful labour were looked forward to from this strong and zealous priest, but such was not God’s holy Will and he spent only eight months in that laborious work.
After having visited a good number of his sick parishioners who were stricken down with fever, he felt very unwell, yet he continued his work until he was so weak that he succumbed to inflammation of the lungs and typhoid fever.
Having received all the assistance and comforts of our Holy religion and offering most willingly the sacrifice of his young life to God and the good he might have done in the vineyard of the Lord, he placidly expired whilst his brethren were praying for his welfare, being then twenty-five years and five months old.