Personal, Glen Innes Examiner, 13 July 1946, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184646981:

Requiem Mass was celebrated at Narrabri early this morning in memory of the late Father Ronayne, who had been parish priest there for a number of years. The interment took place later in the morning in the Roman Catholic portion of the Narrabri cemetery.

---

The North Western Courier, Narrabri, 15 July 1946, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135069557:

Narrabri mourns for the death of the Reverend Father Ronayne, Parish Priest of Narrabri, who passed away at the local Presbytery on Thursday night, the 11th instant, after a short illness.

The deceased priest was born in 1877 of an old and distinguished Irish family in Cork, Eire. He was educated at Mount Mellary Seminary and at St. John's College, Waterford. He was ordained to the priesthood in Eire in September 1904, and came to the Armidale Diocese in the same year. In 1905 he was appointed curate to the late Dean O'Sullivan of Gunnedah, where he remained till he came in charge of St. Francis Xavier's Parish Narrabri, early in 1909. A full account of his work and the details of his obsequies will be printed next issue.

---

Father Ronayne, The North Western Courier, Narrabri, 18 July 1946, p 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135070400:

(Contributed)
"A soul that watched from earliest youth,
And on through many a brightening year
Had never swerved for craft or fear,
By one-side path, from simple truth"
—(Tennyson)

Late on Thursday night, July 11, the unexpected Angel of Death entered St. Francis Xavier's Presbytery, and whispered to the aged priest, Father Ronayne, "The Master is here and calls for you." There was a short interval of pain and weakness, and the two priests in attendance, seeing that the end was near, administered the rites of the church. In full consciousness and submission to the Master's summons, his work on earth being finished, he left our midst for his home in Heaven.

Father Ronayne was born at Killeagh, County Cork, Eire, in 1877, being a member of an old and distinguished Irish family.

He was educated at Mount Melleray Seminary and St. John's College, Waterford. At an early age he heard the call to a Missionary life, and offered himself for service in the Geraldton diocese in Western Australia. His offer was accepted but, owing to the closing of Coolgardie goldfields, when most of the population left the district, there was no further need for missionaries. He then applied for the Armidale Diocese for which place he was ordained priest in Eire, September, 1904.

He arrived in Australia late in that year, and after a few months at Armidale, received his first appointment as Curate to the late Dean O'Sullivan of Gunnedah. In 1909 he came as Parish Priest to Narrabri, where he laboured with zeal and love for God's Glory, till he was stricken with his last illness, two days before the end. He died among the people whom he served and loved. Though he cherished his homeland with all the passionate devotion of the Irish exile, he faced life in Australia with a generous heart, finding in its people a happy response to his zeal and energies. He grew to love the land of his adoption as intensely as its own people, and they in turn appreciated his noble and broad-minded attitude.

As a priest, Father Ronayne's life was exemplary. Faithfully, till two days before his death, he kept his holy tryst at the altar for his morning Mass. He never faltered in his preaching, living and pointing out the way of Catholic life to his flock.

To the church he was faithful in every detail of its teachings, and to win popularity or fame he never swerved from the straight line of its principles. He was a sincere friend, and many people outside his fold had learned to value the wisdom of his advice in business as in spiritual affairs. His life was spent unostentatiously and religiously. He was a living example to his people as a priest and as a citizen he was always ready to help in any effort that was made for the progress of the town and the uplifting of the people. No one ever called on him in vain. His purse as well as his kindly, sympathetic counsel was available for all who sought it. Though he appeared feeble of late years, his mind was alert, and he kept himself conversant with the general trend in all political, business and Church activities. At the opening of the local hospital he donated a private room, and regretted his inability to do more for that institution. Though never active in any sport he encouraged it in all its branches, among the young people, and no one enjoyed the contests and local successes more than he. His tastes were simple. He loved his garden, his poultry, the schoolchildren and very specially, his altar boys. His late years were serene and holy, for he realised that God had given him many blessings in his old age. The Australian soldier was very dear to him, and the Aussie in uniform had no more ardent admirer than he. Though always interested in Church buildings Father Ronayne was generous and humble enough to labour and save for a new Church, which he never expected to see in this life. Though he realised that the present building was far too small and inconvenient for his people, he urged on every movement to increase the funds for a new edifice. Nothing but the very best in every form was to be offered for God's house, and when at no distant date, a stately Church will be erected, most of it will be the result of Father Ronayne's unselfish efforts made during the best years of his zealous life. But, more than brick or stone, he built in the hearts of his people a temple of faith and loyalty to that God whom he had served so long and so well.

At West Narrabri he built a new church, and as his own personal gift to this part of the parish, he gave a beautiful oak altar at which Holy Mass is offered twice each week. A new school was also erected and the playground suitably planned for the welfare of the children was ever his care.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. Solemn Requiem Mass was offered in St. Francis Xavier's Church, the coffin, on which was placed the dead priest's biretta and stole, was placed before the sanctuary where Father Ronayne had offered his daily Mass for thirty seven years. The Bishop, the Right Rev. T. Coleman, D.D. and the clergy chanted the Office for the Dead, the plaintive notes of the Benedictus filling the listeners with responsive sadness and resignation. For the first time in its history Narrabri had the privilege of hearing and seeing the full liturgy and ceremonies of a Solemn Requiem Mass. The Church had been draped by the Sisters of Mercy with ecclesiastical purple mourning. The Bishop presided in the Sanctuary.

The celebrant of the Mass was the Rev. T. Leahy (Warialda), Sub-Deacon, the Rev. L. Mahoney (Barraba), Deacon, the Rev. P. McDermott (Werris Creek), all three being Curates at one time to the deceased priest. In the choir the clergy sang the beautiful canonical chant of the dirges and Psalms. The Rev. M. Tully (Quirindi), being Master of Ceremonies.

Many non-Catholics came to the Church and attended the funeral, their presence testifying to the esteem in which Father Ronayne was held.

The Clergy of other denominations came to represent their people. The priests, other than those already mentioned who came many miles to honour the memory of the revered old Parish Priest were the Rev. Fathers P. Walsh (Bingara), L. O'Reilly, P. Cosgrove (Moree) B. O'Brien (Guyra) P. Condon (Uralla), J. P. O'Connor (Mungindi) J. M. O'Connor (West Tamworth) P. Conroy (Tamworth), J. McDermott (Gunnedah) N. Tuttle (Walgett), F. Hogan (Boggabri), J. McKeon (Gunnedah) P. Doherty (Ashford), P. Shanahan (Narrabri), Purcell (Blackheath) S. O'Brien (Manilla) J. Maron (Wee Waa), T. Geary (Quirindi) J. Healy (Armidale).

Before the funeral cortege left, the Bishop, Dr. Coleman, delivered the panegyric. "Father Ronayne," he said, "had always been an outstanding priest, ever faithful in his duty to God and the people. He was a man of God, a man of faith whose whole life was devoted to God's work In this Church he baptised many of you, later he blessed your marriage and was always ready to comfort the sick and prepare the dying for their last hours. To the young priests he was a father, and his kindly words of advice were appreciated. The presence here today of every curate he had is a testimony of their high regard for their spiritual leader. He will be missed by the children with whom he was ever merry and tender; by the nuns in whom he had a great interest, having seen many of them pass from girlhood to age in the service of God. If he were here now, to give you a message, he would say "Pray for my soul. Offer the Holy Mass for me as I did for you and yours in your sorrows and your joys." May his great soul find rest and peace everlasting in Heaven, Amen."

The funeral was very long, every class and creed being represented. The Cross-bearer, K. Donlan, in cassock and soutane, led the procession. The school children, girls wearing white veils, the school boys, the Catholic Cadets in uniform, the Children of Mary, the Holy Name Sodality all marched to the graveside, the site chosen by Father Ronayne as his last resting place, less than a month ago when he was apparently in excellent health. He gave as his reason for choosing that particular spot, the fact that it was near the cemetery entrance, and all who came would in time, see his name, and remember to pray for him.

His body lies under the Australian sod, but his soul, we hope, is with God. With Joyce Kilmer we sound for this great Soldier of Christ, the poet's "Last Post."

"Your soul shall be where heroes are, And your memory shine like the morning star. Brave and dear, shield us here—Farewell!"

---

T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Ronayne, Maurice

Born at Killeagh, Co Cork, Ireland in 1877 he was educated at Mount Melleray school. Studied at St John's College Waterford. with Daniel Keane (qv). He was ordained for the Armidale diocese in September 1904, exact date unknown. On arrival in the diocese later in 1904 he was appointed assistant priest Gunnedah. He was transferred to Narrabri as priest in charge of the parish in February 1909. He remained at Narrabri until he died. He was a member of an old and distinguished Irish family which enjoyed the benefit of a decree of William III that, on the death of a member of the family, the bells of the city of Youghal should be tolled. He died suddenly in Narrabri on 11 July 1946. He was buried in Narrabri cemetery. NSW Probate records show his date of death as 12 July 1946. Doody incorrectly records the date of death as 20 July 1946.
(Sources: FJ 18 Feb 1909 p 21, Foley, Doody, CW 18 Jul 1946 p 21, 25 Jul 1946 p 21)

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)