(d. 10th January 1933, aged 60 years. )
Only a few days after the death of Fr. Bertrand, the Passionist Community at Mount Argus sustained a great loss by the death of Father Bernard (Mangan), C.P. The sad news was received with deep sorrow in many Catholic centres with which the deceased priest was associated during nearly forty years of missionary activity.
Born at Cappoquin in 1872, Father Bernard then known as Edmund Mangan made his classical studies at Mount Melleray, and in response to a religious vocation entered the Passionist Congregation at an early age. Admitted to profession at St. Saviour’s Retreat Broadway, Worcs. on September 22nd, 1890, he began his philosophical and theological course which he completed at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate Hill, London. He was ordained priest by the late Cardinal Vaughan in 1895.
Unwearying in his attendance in the Confessional, he reaped a rich harvest of souls during the numerous missions and retreats which he gave throughout Ireland and Great Britain. His prudence and qualifications as an administrator well fitted him for the responsible offices to which he was promoted in the Order. Besides holding the position of Provincial Consultor for two different terms, he was elected Rector of the Retreats at Belfast, Glasgow, Sutton (Lancashire), and Carmarthen, Wales.
Animated by Christlike charity, he was ever ready, no matter what the personal sacrifice might be, to befriend and console the afflicted and the sorrowing, and it was while he was engaged in such noble work that his last illness came. Turning his thoughts on himself, he prepared for death, like a true soldier of the Cross.
(ex. “The Cross”, February 1933, Vol XXIII, p. 417)
(Edmund Mangan)He as born at Cappoquin, on March 29th, 1872, being just one and a half years older than Fr. BERTRAND Mangan, who died yesterday.
He had done his secondary studies at Mount Mellary School, and went to our Novitiate in Broadway, Worcs., where he made his First Profession on 22nd September 1890, his Master of Novices having been Fr. Raymond Disano, into the hands of the Rector, Fr. Chrysostom Rothwell, a Manchester man. He did his Philosophy and his Theological Studies at St. Joseph’s retreat, Highgate, London. There he was ordained by the famous Cardinal Vaughan, the builder of Westminster Cathedral, in 1895.
He became rather famous and popular as a Confessor; and did much work as a missioner and a giver of Retreats both in Ireland and in Britain. He was a Rector no less than in four Houses (Belfast, Glasgow, Sutton, and Carmarthen), and held the position of Provincial Consultor during two different terms. So, he was a man of no mean talent, and exercised a Passionist Apostolate in may different fields.
He knew the Ven. CHARLES Houben, C.P., and indeed was one of those who watched beside his bedside during that saintly man’s last illness.
Two of his brothers were priests of the Diocese of Minnesota, USA, and a nephew was also a priest in an American Diocese. Two of his sisters were Notre Dame Nuns.
Mgr. Cronin, PP, VG, presided at the Requiem Mass, which was offered by the Very Rev. Fr. Sebastian Slean, C.P., the Provincial.
Sources: Anglo-Hib. Catalogue 1893 No. 101.
Obit. In the Cross, 23(1932-1933), p. 417
Newscuttings re death and funeral, 1933.01.10