(d. 30th December 1932, aged 59 years.)
Less than a week after the lamented death of Father John Baptist, C.P., came the announcement of the death of Fr. Bertrand, C.P., which occurred at Belfast on December 30th, 1932. It was not unexpected, however, as the deceased Passionist had been in failing health.
Born at Tarbert, Co. Kerry, on September 13th, 1873, the late Father Bertrand who was known in the world as John Joseph Mangan made his profession in St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcs., completed his studies at Mount Argus, and was ordained priest in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, in 1898, by the late Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin.
Having laboured with much zeal for some years in the missionary field in Ireland and England, he was appointed successively to the office of Vice-Rector at Belfast and Sutton (Lancashire). The sphere of Father Bertrand’s activities for the salvation of souls was then transferred to Australia, where he spent himself in the service of Our Divine Master. In the cities or the scattered bush stations he was unwearied in preaching the Word of the Cross and in winning fouls to repentance. Meanwhile he was appointed Acting-Provincial, and, on the erection of the new Australian Province in 1922, he was elected Provincial an office which he held with distinction. His prudence and sound judgement contributed much to the progress of the Order beneath the Southern Cross.
The exacting nature of his work in the mission field at length began to tell upon him, and when he came to Ireland for the Eucharistic Congress it was evident that his health was shattered. During a visit to Ardoyne his illness became so alarming that no reasonable hope of recovery was left, and he awaited the end with that spirit of resignation to the Divine Will which becomes the servants of God.
(ex. “The Cross”, February 1933, Vol XXIII, p. 417)
Fr. BERTRAND of St. Joseph
(John Joseph Mangan)
January 1933 saw the deaths of two Passionists name MANGAN, within 24 hours of each other; altho’ having the same family name they were no relations Father BERTRAND was a Kerryman, being born at Tarbert on 13th September 1893, while Fr. BERNARD (their religious names were not unalike) was from Co. Tipperary.
He did his Novitiate at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway and became a Passionist on 4th May 1891. His studies he did at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mt. Argus, and was ordained Priest in the Pro-Cathedral, Malborough Street, Dublin, by the then Archbishop, Dr. Walsh, in 1898.
His first Apostolate was as a Missioner, here in Ireland and in Britain. He was Vice-Rector of Ardoyne, and later of Sutton, Lancs.
Then he went to give a hand to our men in Australia, doing a real job of work, giving Missions both in the towns and in the ‘outback’. He was appointed Vice-Provincial, and later when the Province of the Holy Spirit (Australia) came into existence in 1922 he became its FIRST Provincial. His prudence and sound judgement contributed in no small measure to putting that Province on a firm footing.
He returned to Ireland in 1932 for the International Eucharistic Congress, held that year in DUBLIN. It was plain to the brethren here that his health had been badly shattered by his years of hard work and while on a visit to Holy Cross, Ardoyne, he fell gravely ill. There, resigned to God’s will, he died on this day (9th January)
SOURCES: Anglo-Hib. Catalogue, 1893 No. 105.
Obit in the Cross 23(1932-1933): p. 417
Cross Annual 1937, p.32. Art. on Cps in Australia.