Died in London, February 14, Province of St. Joseph.
Father Colman was sick only seventeen days with blood poison, and was ordered as a last resort to be brought to the hospital of the Sisters of Mercy by the doctor, in the meagre hope of saving so valuable a life; but he survived only three days, when he passed from this world by a holy death. Perceiving that his end was at hand, he prepared for it as became a good religious and a priest.
The day before it took place, he asked for the last Sacraments, and spent his remaining time in most fervent acts of faith, hope and charity, repeating devout aspirations of every kind, and most frequently this one: My Jesus, mercy! These were the last words he uttered. Let us hope that Our Savior was truly merciful to him, for Father Colman was specially noted all his priestly life long, for his charity towards his neighbor, assisting the needy as far as he could both in soul and body.
He was born on Christmas Day, 1860, in Shandrum, County Cork, Ireland, of Michael and Mary Noonan. At an early age he gave signs of an ecclesiastical vocation, and was sent by his good parents to the diocesan seminary at Fermoy. But God had selected him to be a Passionist, and John (as he was called in the world), obeyed the divine inspiration, receiving the holy habit in 1881 and on the 12th of October, of the year following, he consecrated his whole life to the service of Christ Crucified. He pursued his clerical studies in our London retreat and was ordained priest in due time. Shortly after this, in 1888, he was appointed, together with Fathers Alphonsus, Patrick and Marcellus, for the new foundation of our Congregation in AustraIia. There he had to endure a great deal, and his companions speak of his fortitude in the highest terms. He had a good head, but what was better, he had a good heart; and these qualities made him an apostle of souls, enabling him by means of retreats and missions in a period of eleven years to reap a goodly harvest for Jesus Christ throughout the whole of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.
After this he returned to England, and was stationed in our retreat at London, where for the last six years of his life, he was parish priest. What he had been, in the Antipodes he continued at St. Joseph’s. He looked after the souls confided to him with exquisite care, never consulting his own ease, but rather, solicitous for those who were ransomed with the life-blood of a God. He concerned himself not only with their spiritual welfare, but likewise did his utmost to further their temporal interests. He thus secured the esteem and love of all. This was very evident at his death; his loss was universally lamented. When he was buried, our London church,, tho’ very capacious, was literally packed with people; his catafalque was covered with memorial wreaths and bunches of flowers, and, more note- worthy still, a good many priests hastened to say Mass for one whom they respected and loved. Since then too, Masses continue to be ordered by Priests and people, for the repose of their friend. By reason of his continual labors, both as missionary and as pastor, good Father Colman could not follow our day and night observances; yet, he never forgot that he was a son of St. Paul of the Cross; and if our sainted Founder saw, in spirit his dear children laboring in England, and knew them one by one, he would gladly have recognized Father Colman as a true son of the Congregation, one who preached Jesus Crucified by his words, and by a lifetime of works that harmonized well with them.
Obituary Notice of the Rev. Fr. Colman of the Holy Cross.
After an illness of 20 days the Rev. Fr. Colman of the Holy Cross, of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, died a holy and edifying death at the Catholic Hospital, Grove end Road, London. By the advice of the doctor, who considered that he needed special professional nursing, he was removed from St. Joseph’s Retreat to that hospital, which is under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, on Sunday the 11th of February when all his Brethren and friends hoped he might soon recover his health under hospital treatment. However in the designs of providence that was not to be. His time had come, and Fr. Colman knew it, and prepared himself for death with all the faith and earnestness of a good religious and a devout priest. On Tuesday the 13th of February he asked for and received the last Sacraments of the Church, and from the moment of their reception until his death he never ceased to pray and offer up pious aspirations and acts of fervent faith, hope and love. Even when he had become very weak he would recite from memory the rosary of the Five Wounds, and repeat continually his favourite ejaculations: “My Jesus mercy”, which according to the testimony of his Confessor who remained with him during the last fifteen hours of his life, were the last words he uttered. He died peacefully and happily on the morning of the 14th February.
The cause of his death was blood-poisoning. The doctor for some days after he had shown symptoms of the disease expected the patient, who was physically a strong man, to surmount its evil effects but by degrees it affected vital organs and caused death. The news of his death occasioned deep and wide-spread sorrow, especially to his religious companions, and to the Highgate people, to whom he had endeared himself by his kind pastoral labours and his charitable solicitude for many years.
Fr. Colman died comparatively at an early age. He was born in Shandrum, Co. Cork, Ireland, on the 25th December 1860. His parents were Michael and Mary Nunan, and he himself received in Baptism the name of John. After his elementary schooling, he was sent to the diocesan seminary at Fermoy, where he studied his classics in preparation for the ecclesiastical state. At the age of 20 he was admitted into our Congregation, and made his novitiate at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcestershire, where he was professed on the 12th October 1882. He went through his ecclesiastical studies at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, and was ordained priest by the Right Rev. W. Weathers, Bishop of Amycla, in June 1886. For a short time after his ordination he remained at the same Retreat, and in the year 1888 he was selected by his Superiors to accompany the Rev. Frs. Alphonsus, Patrick and Marcellus on the Australian Mission for the purpose of establishing our Congregation in that country. One who was his companion and colleague on the Australian mission thus writes of him: “By the death of Father Colman the Church loses a most zealous priest. I shall never forget his labours in Australia for the establishment of his Order, which has now three flourishing houses there. Broad-minded, generous, and self-sacrificing, he won the hearts of all with whom he came in contact, and gave an example to all by his zeal and labours. He was an earnest and effective preacher, and gave missions and retreats in all parts of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, winning many souls to Christ”.
After a period of eleven years of hard missionary life in Australia, Fr. Colman returned to England, and was once more stationed at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate. For the past six years he has had the charge of a district of the parish, and has been acting as parish priest. The same zeal and energy which characterised his priestly labours in Australia continued to the end of his life. Any one acquainted with the manner of life of a missionary priest in London, will know how much is required of him. He is called upon to attend not only to the spiritual wants of the people, but is expected to provide also for the corporal necessities, to visit especially the poor, and to help continually to feed and clothe them. For the poor and suffering he always had the greatest sympathy, and deemed no trouble too great if he could in any way assist them. He was the friend of all and his friendship was true and lasting. As a Passionist he had always at heart the good of the Congregation, and possessed in a high degree its spirit of charity and kindness. After his own sanctification his next and greatest concern was for the salvation of others, and so far as his numerous pastoral duties allowed he was observant of rules and constitutions. It was no wonder, therefore, that he was beloved and esteemed by his religious Brethren and by the whole congregation, and that he is now so sadly mourned by all. His Solemn Requiem and funeral were attended by many of the neighbouring priests, secular and religious, and by a congregation which filled our large church. The love and devotion of the people were shown not only by numerous floral tributes for his coffin, but by more worthy and profitable offerings. Besides the Masses which the priests of the Congregation have to offer for its deceased members, numerous friends have had Masses offered for the soul of this good Father. Several Masses have been offered for him every day since his death and intentions for more Masses are being received every day, for the repose of his soul. This I think, more than anything else, is a proof of the genuine Catholic spirit which animates our people, and manifests the place which Fr. Colman holds in their memories and affections.
Fr. Colman’s remains were deposited in the mausoleum in the grounds, with the bodies of the other Passionists who have died at Highgate. So long as the present generation of Highgate Catholics and their children remain he will be kept in loving remembrance, and prayers and Masses will be offered for his soul.
May he rest in peace.