We regret to announce the death of FR. EDWARD (LE MAITRE), C.P., of St. Joseph’s Province which. took place at Highgate on May 5th. He was well known as a missioner in Britain and Ireland, and had served for many years in Australia.
The late Fr. Edward was born at Schoorisse, near Ghent, Belgium, on October 23rd. 1867. As a young man he came to Great Britain, where he made the acquaintance with the Passionists in Glasgow. A short time later he sought admission to the Congregation and was professed at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, in July, 1892. His ecclesiastical studies were made at Mount Argus, Dublin, where he was ordained in June, 1898.
For the next ten years Fr. Edward was engaged on the missionary staff until, in 1908, he went to Australia as Rector of Glen Osmund, Adelaide. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, he was appointed a chaplain to the Australian forces, with whom he served in France, Egypt, and the Middle East. After the war he returned to Australia as Rector of the Passionist Monastery at Marrickville, Sydney. Here he built the church which to the present time is considered one of the finest in Australia.
In 1924, Fr. Edward. returned to England, and after a couple of years at Harborne, Birmingham, was elected Rector of St. Saviour’s Retreat Broadway. Three years later he became Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, where he cleared off the parish debt, had the whole church re-decorated and finally had the happiness of seeing it consecrated on the feast of St. Paul of the Cross, 1932.
LATER, Fr. Edward served for a term as Provincial Consultor, in which capacity his wide experience and administrative talent found full scope. His death, at the age of seventy-five, will be deeply mourned, not only by his brethren of the Province of St. Joseph, but also by any in Australia who profited by his spiritual ministrations.
The burial took place on Thursday, May 7th, in the grounds at Highgate, after Requiem, Mass celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church. R.I.P.
(The Cross, Vol. XXXIII, 1942-43; p.82)