Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

NARROMINE PASTOR DIES. AGED 72
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HIS Lordship Bishop Fox presided at the Solemn Funeral Office and Requiem Mass in St.Augustine's Church, Narromine for the repose of the soul of the Very Rev. Father Daniel Hennessy, parish priest of Narromine, who died last week.

More than 40 priests from the Dioceses of Wilcannia Forbes, Bathurst and Sydney were present. His Lordship Bishop Norton, of Bathurst, was represented by the Very Rev. Father M. Dunne, of North Dubbo. Father Hennessy, who died in Lewisham Hospital after a short illness, was in his 72nd year. Born at Shane, County Leix, Ireland, he was ordained from St. Patrick'sCollege. Carlow, in 1907 for the Diocese of Wilcannia Forbes. He served for a time at Broken Hill, before going to Wentworth as parish priest where he was responsible for the building of the parish school and the church at Euston. Father Hennessy was then appointed to Balranald where he built the presbytery. At that time Barham was Included in the Balranald parish and Father Hennessy built the church at Barham, which, since enlarged, still serves the parish.
Chaplain
After a short period as Chaplain during the 1914-18 war, he was transferred to Trundle where he continued his building record, erecting the presbytery at Trundle and the church at Tottenham. For the past 29 years he had been pastor of Narromine and Trangie, and at the time of his death, was one of the Consultors of the Diocese Of Wllcaunia-Forbes. The present beautiful Church of St. Augustine was built by Father Hennessy to replace one destroyed by a cyclonic storm In 1932. Although in failing health about 18 months ago, Father Hennessy undertook the building of a new parish school at Narromine, a splendid modern edifice blessed and opened by Bishop Fox last November, when the greater part of its cost had already been met. Celebrant or the Requiem was Father Hennessy's nephew, the Rev. Father Daniel Boylan, of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat. Other relatives wore also present In the congregation which crowded the church, and the Returned Soldiers' League was officially represented at both the Mass and the funeral. Prior to imparting the in absolution, Bishop Fox, in a tribute to Father Hennessy, stressed the deep, robust spirit of Faith which characterised the life of the deceased priest. A man of prayer. His Lordship said. Father Hennessy was profoundly devoted to the Blessed Eucharist and the Mother of God, whose Rosary he recited daily in its 15 mysteries. Wherever he had been, Father Hennessy was a faithful, vigilant pastor,building up the Church materially and implanting the Faith strongly in the lives of his people.
Men Thanked
His Lordship thanked the men of the parish for their night-long vigil of Rosaries which they had recited in the church around the remains of their pastor and expressed sympathy to the relatives. Bishop Fox also urged parents to foster vocations among their children. Father Hennessy's death was the sixth in the ranks of the dlocesan clergy in two years. This heavy toll had faced him as Bishop, with an almost insoluble problem and he appealed, therefore, to Catholic parents to come to his help, by prayer and general example, in directing the thoughts and aspirations of their sons to the diocesan priesthood. Bishop Fox, assisted by Father Boylan, also officiated at the graveside in Narromine cemetery. — R.I. P.