Fr. KILLIAN of the Holy Souls (Michael Sheridan) 4th Jan. 1940 Like his classmate, Fr. Timothy O’Regan, C.P., Fr. KILLIAN was also found dead: but in a railway carriage at Honeybourne Junction, Worcs.; he had been travelling back from Birmingham to Broadway, where he was Master of Novices. His Breviary was open on his lap, when he was found by the porter, who was checking the carriages to see that all passengers had changed to the Cheltenham train. It was the Octave Day of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and Fr. Killian was a man, all his classmates would agree, who had taken our Lord’s advice to heart and ‘become like a little child’. He was a ‘late vocation’. Born in Glasgow in 1894, he came of Irish stock. His family was in the cattle trade in Ireland, and indeed one of his brothers was a Senator, who represented Agricultural interests in the Senate. During the 1914-18 War he served in the British Royal Navy, mostly on the North Atlantic Patrol, even then one of the toughest stations. He did his Novitiate in the Graan, and joined the class in Broadway. Being the oldest among the class he was a sort of father-figure, and made sure we did our best to live up to the ideals of our Founder; if we slacked, we were advised (a great phrase of his) ‘to pull up our socks’! He choose St. Joseph’s Province (England and Wales) when the ‘Anglo-Hib.’ was divided in 1927. Ordained in Ilkley in 1929, he became Director of Students at St. Anne’s, Sutton, until 1933, when he was made Vice-Rector, of Highgate, London. in 1935, he was back in Ilkley as Vice-Rector and 3 years later was made Master of Novices in Broadway, where 16 years before he had studied Philosophy. He had, as already suggested, a way with him with younger men, and those who were his classmates, or his Students, or his Novices, ever remember him with affection and love. He was a real Passionist missioner, and on his return, exhausted from all the work he had put into the job, his eyes would light up when he was able to tell of people who had ‘fallen away’ whom he had helped to put their feet once more on the road that led them closer to God. He taught and led more by example than by words. One of his Novices remembers how fervently he’d make the Stations of the Cross during his free time. He was a great pianist, and that contributed a lot to our recreations and the ‘concerts’ we used put on at Christmas and Easter. He was a big-framed man and perspired a lot, and was for ever wiping his face. With his Students he’d play football, and, boy, did he sweat then! He’d drop to the ground, saying, he was getting too old for such exercise! But, the advice he used give to his young men on the ideals proper to a priest, and how best to attain them, were remembered, even the tone of voice in which he conveyed them. He was a big, gentle bear of a man, and all who knew him, remember him with, I suppose the word is, LOVE. God rest him, on this his Anniversary. Sources: Novitiate ‘Profession Chapter’ Register (14th Aug. 1922). OBIT (‘THE CROSS’ vol. 30 (1939-40): p. 450. Classmates memories. In GROUP-PHOTO: Ordination of 1933 class at Sutton. THE CROSS 24(1933-34): p. 164 Very Rev. Fr. Killian Sheridan, C.P. None of us dreamt that the shrill ring of the telephone late on the night of the fourth of January was to bring such sudden sorrow into our midst. “Fr. Killian died to-night.” The words of the telegram delivered over the telephone were brief, but every word was like a heart-stab to those of us who knew and loved gentle, genial Fr. Killian. It was a sudden end to a short, priestly life. Fr. Killian was born in Glasgow in 1894. When God called him to the religious life he was already a man of mature age and experience and had served with the navy throughout the World War. In 1929, he was ordained at St. Paul’s Retreat, Ilkley, Yorks., by Rt. Rev. Dr. Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds; and shortly afterwards he was appointed Director of Students at St. Anne’s Retreat, Sutton, Lancs. He continued in that office until 1933, when he was appointed. Vice-Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London. Two years later he was transferred to St. Paul’s Retreat, Ilkley, where he Vice-Rector until 1938. In that year he was elected Master of Novices at the Provincial Chapter of St. Joseph’s Province. The mere recital of the details of the life of Fr. Killian is but the slightest indication of his really lovable character and genuine worth. Throughout England and Wales he will be remembered and mourned as an outstanding missioner who, by his own great personal love for Christ Crucified, and his eloquent pleading on behalf of the Master he served so well, won countless souls to God. The work of the mission-field was the desire of his heart, and every mission found him brimful of that holy enthusiasm that counts neither cost nor effort in the attempt to achieve great things for God. How often have we seen him return from the missions absolutely exhausted by his strenuous efforts. And how his eyes would sparkle and reflect the joy in his soul as he told his students of sinners brought back to God. From him we learnt, by word and example, the love of the missions, the preaching of Christ Crucified to a sorrowful, sin-stricken world. His great, big-hearted charity made him loved of all, and one need only be in trouble to be assured of his friendship and help. He had a simple, ingenuous way of winning the confidence and affection of the young. It was this characteristic allied to his obvious personal sanctity that made him so beloved of the students and novices whom he directed. One felt that it would be trampling upon all honour were one to prove false to the confidence which Fr. Killian reposed in every student. He was one of ourselves. I can see him now making the Stations of the Cross during his free-time – that was his way of instructing us. I can. recall his big hearty laugh as, bathed in perspiration,. he would throw himself down on the football-field and jokingly complain that he was getting too old and stout for such exertion. And I can still hear his voice and recollect the advice which he gave us as he held before us the ideals of the priesthood and the means we must employ to reach such heights. Youth is by nature critical, but we knew that Fr. Killian practised what he preached. Years have gone by since those days of happy memory, and now Fr. Killian is dead. His was a sudden,. unexpected death. But he had always cherished the hope that he would work unto the very end – and God granted his desire. His memory will live long amongst us and his glory will be forever bright in Heaven, for Fr. Killian was a great priest and a holy. Passionist. May his gentle, loving soul rest in everlasting peace. F. E. (The Cross, Vol.XXX, 1939-40; p. 450)