OBITUARY NOTICE OF FR. PASCHAL GARVEY C.P. In the early hours of the morning of Thursday, October 12 Fr. Paschal Garvey of the Blessed Sacrament C.P. passed quietly and peacefully to his reward, in St. John’s Private Nursing Home, Crumlin Road, Belfast. Though he had been in the Nursing Home for some months and had been seriously ill, the end came as a surprise to all the members of the Ardoyne Community Fr. Paschal was born in Sligo in 1901. After his preliminary studies he entered the Passionist Novitiate in Enniskillen in 1921. After his profession a year later, he commenced his studies for the priesthood in St. Anne’s Retreat, Sutton. There he was ordained in September 1926 by Dr. Keating, Archbishop of Liverpool. Some years later he was appointed Vicar of St. Mary’s Retreat, Musselburgh. After some years there he returned to Ireland and the remainder of his active days were spent in conducting Missions and Retreats. Over the past few years Fr. Paschal was no longer able to be active in the apostolate that he loved so much. Through illness he was confined to the house in Ardoyne, but even when gasping for breath and hardly able to stand ne never missed celebrating daily Mass. When, a few weeks before he entered hospital, he was feeling much worse he had to restrict the celebration of Mass to Sunday, those of us who lived in Ardoyne knew that the end could not be far away. This Preacher of the Passion was well known and admired throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. Of tall and impressive appearance and gifted with a powerful and pleasing voice this man made a profound and lasting impression on his audience. Although somewhat austere and reserved in manner, he was in fact a very approachable person and a confessor who must have helped many thousands of souls. No sermon was ever taken in his stride because he felt it would be unjust and even insulting to the waiting multitude to enter into the pulpit without very thorough preparation. The members of the Men’s Confraternity in Holy Cross, Ardoyne, whose Spiritual Director he was for many years, still speak in glowing admiration of those wonderful sermons that he delivered to them. Few could equal him in giving a Mission Instruction. The essential features of the particular subject were put to his congregation with clarity, succinctness and in a most pleasing and memorable manner. Fr. Paschal had an outstanding devotion to the Blessed Sacrament which showed itself in a variety of ways. He himself acted always before the real Presence in a manner that manifested his vivid realization of this greatest gift of God’s love. Withered flowers or soiled altar cloths tended to rouse his indignation and he liked everything in the Church to be neat and tidy. Sick members of the Community were always the special concern of Fr. Paschal and his kindness and gentleness towards them were manifestations of his Christ-like charity. Having once been Vicar himself he was aware of the many daily duties, often unnoticed by a Community, which fall to a priest in this Office. In the counting of money, the keeping of accounts and such work he showed himself anxious and willing to be of help and successive Vicars in Ardoyne owe much to his helpful advice in fulfilling their duties. He will be remembered with kindness, especially among those of us with whom he spent his last years. May he rest in peace. Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. October 28th 1967. Rev. Fr. PASCHAL GARVEY, C.P. AT HOLY CROSS RETREAT, Ardoyne,. Belfast, on Wednesday, 11th October, the death took place of Rev. Fr. Paschal Garvey, C.P. The late Fr. Paschal was born in Sligo in 1901 and entered the Passionists when he was twenty years of age. He pursued his studies at St. Anne’s Retreat. Sutton, Lancs., where he was ordained in September; 1926, by Dr. Keating, Archbishop of Liverpool. For some years Fr. Paschal was Vice-Rector of St. Mary’s, Musselburgh, Scotland, but later he returned to Ireland where he conducted parochial missions throughout the country. For this specialised apostolate he had particular aptitude. Of tall and impressive appearance, gifted with a strong voice and a commanding personality, he made a profound impression by his preaching. Although apparently austere and reserved in manner, he was genuinely unassuming and, as a rule, very approachable as a confessor. He had quite a remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament which showed itself in many ways. To see any lack of snowy whiteness in altar-cloths or linen, to observe withered flowers left upon the altar, always aroused his indignation. Everything about the church had to be done with the most meticulous care before he was satisfied. Within the community he was a genial companion, especially noted for his kindness towards the sick brethren. He counted it a privilege to attend to their simple needs with that gentle charity which is the mark of a true follower of Christ. For many years he had been a member of the Ardoyne community where his death will be felt as a deep personal loss. His brother, the late Fr. John Baptist Garvey, C.P., pre-deceased him by many years. May he rest in peace. (The Cross, Vol. 58; 1967-68; No. 8, page 29)