
Father Vincent (Sweeney), C.P. It is with genuine regret that we chronicle the entirely unexpected death, on August 30th, of Father Vincent, C.P., of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Collooney, Co. Sligo. He was a brother of Rev. Father Vivian, C.P., Mount Argus, Dublin. Seldom indeed has the death of one of its members brought such a deep sense of shock to the Province of St. Patrick, for no one had dared to associate the idea of imminent death with one of such robust and vigorous constitution. Michael Sweeney, as he was known in the world, was born in Dublin on January 1st, 1910. Having received his early education at the Christian Brothers’ Schools, Synge St., Dublin, he entered the Passionist Novitiate at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen, in 1927, and was professed there on October 28th, 1928. He was ordained by the late Most Rev. Dr. Wall, Bishop of Thasos, in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, on June 15th, 1935. During his twenty-three fruitful years in the Priesthood, Father Vincent became widely known for his work as missioner and retreat-master in Ireland and Scotland. He was resident at St. (Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen, St. Mary’s Retreat Drum-mohr, Musselburgh, St. Gabriel’s, Prestonpans, and St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, where he lived for some years until his transfer to Collooney just a few months before his death. He will long be remembered for his untiring labour in the Catholic Youth Movement in Scotland. While there, he was for some time in charge of the parish under the care of our Fathers at St. Gabriel’s, Prestonpans. During the years spent by him at St. Paul’s Retreat, he was chaplain to the Mount Argus Troop of the Catholic Boy Scouts, with whom he visited Lourdes last Easter. His priestly life, therefore, while comparatively short, was full of good works, and those who knew him intimately realised that his sole inspiration was the glory of God and the saving of souls. Father Vincent’s was a childlike, single-minded service of the Master – a fact which now brings solace to those who mourn his loss. At Mount Argus, on Tuesday, September 2nd, Rev. Father Vivian, C.P., celebrated Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his brother’s soul. Requiescat in Pace. (The Cross, Vol. XLIX, 1958-59; p. 188.)