OBITUARY OF FR. WILFRED, C.P., OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY, DIED DEC. 25th, 1912. The gloom of death fell upon the community of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, in the midst of the Christmas festivities when the Rev. Fr. Wilfred O’Hagan, C.P., passed away after a painful illness. For about twelve months the deceased father had been in failing health, and though the courageous spirit, for which he was ever remarkable, did not allow him to give way, it was clear to his religious brethren and friends outside the community that some insidious malady was playing havoc with his constitution. In the last days of October when looking forward to a series of November sermons in Westminster cathedral. for which his name was publicly announced, but which the Rector of St. Joseph’s. Highgate, actually preached, symptoms of inward trouble became so distressing that he was obliged to consult the physician of the community. It was with reluctance that he admitted being ill, for endowed as he was with a most robust constitution, he had practically never known a day’s indisposition in his life. But a dangerous complication was diagnosed, and it was judged expedient that he should be at once placed in a nursing home to undergo a course of medical treatment. The Irish Sisters of Charity at Hackney received the patient into their home and nursed him with tender care. It was soon evident, however, that medical remedies would not suffice and the last hope of recovery lay in the application of the surgical knife. For this purpose Fr. Wilfred was transferred to the Great Northern Hospital, Upper Holloway, and temporary relief was obtained by surgical treatment. A more serious operation was found to be necessary and this was performed on the 19th ult. For several days satisfactory progress was maintained but on the Eve of Christmas a change set in, and it became evident that the system was collapsing. The Last Sacraments were administered by Fr. Chrysostom Rothwell, C.P., while the patient was in full consciousness and perfectly resigned to the Divine Will. Shortly after this he fell into a state of coma from which he never recovered. He was released from his suffering at 5 p.m. on Christmas Day while the prayers for the dying were being recited by Fr. Malachy Gavin, C.P., and two of his brother priests from St. Joseph’s Retreat. Born at Kilkeel, Co. Down, Ireland in the year 1850, the late Father O’Hagan made his ecclesiastical studies in the Seminary of his native Diocese. Feeling a call to the religious life, he entered the Novitiate of the Passionists in 1968, and having pronounced his vows in the following year, was sent by his superiors to St. Paul’s, Mount Argus, Dublin. where he went through a brilliant course of philosophy and theology. After his ordination in 1875, he was appointed Lector in the Sacred Sciences, an office for which he was eminently fitted by reason of his deep learning and exceptional facility for imparting knowledge to others. Of subtle intellect and tenacious memory, the Summa of St. Thomas was to him a congenial study, and he easily became master of its intricacies. His students aver that he was able to enliven the dullest subjects, and cast a glow of interest around questions, which at first seemed only tedious and uninviting. In a word he was, by nature, a teacher, and in this capacity his success was brilliant. Later on he was appointed to the missionary staff of the Order and for a number of years was engaged in preaching missions and giving retreats all over the United Kingdom. Wherever he was heard, his eloquent discourses bearing, as they did, the impress of his strong personality and deeply religious spirit, produced a lasting impression, and were attended by the happiest results, as the local clergy were always pleased to testify. He was also much in request for retreats to the clergy and religious communities. Father O’Hagan was subsequently appointed First Consultor of the Anglo/Hibernian Province of the Passionists and at a still later period entrusted with the government of different houses of the Order, including St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, of which he was Rector for six years, St. Mungo’s, Glasgow, (where he spent three years) and St, Mary’s, Carmathen . The closing years of his life were spent at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, and up to the day on which he was pronounced seriously ill, his activity in the Sacred Ministry was unceasing. He preached for the last time at St. Joseph’s on Sunday Oct. 27. One present on that occasion, who had not heard him for years, remarked that he spoke with the same vigorous enthusiasm as of old. A few days later he went away to hospital, destined to be carried back to his home a dead man. On Saturday morning, December 28, at close of Solemn Requiem Mass, sung by his old friend, Fr. Chrysostom Rothwell, C.P., the remains of Father O’Hagan were committed to the Community Mausoleum at St. Joseph’s Retreat, last prayers of the church being recited by Father Rector, in presence of local and neighbouring clergy, religious bodies of the district, and large concourse of laity. Fr. Malachy, C.P., Rector.