Rev William Drinan SJTitle: Rev First Name: William Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Drinan Order: SJ Date of Birth: 22-Mar-1861 Place of Birth: Branxton NSW Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 13-Dec-1895 Place of Death: Branxton NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 15-Dec-1895 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: Biographical NotesDeath of a Jesuit Father at Branxton, The Maitland Daily Mercury, 14 December 1895, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123933473: We regret to have to record the death last evening, at an early age, at his parents' residence, Branxton, of the Rev. William Drinan, a member of the Jesuit Fathers, whoso headquarters are at Riverview, near Sydney. The deceased fathor was eldest son of Mr. Thomas Drinan, of Branxton, and he succumbed to consumption, from whioh he had been ailing for some years. A week ago yesterday, Father Drinan came from Riverview on a visit to his parents, and was then almost too ill to be out of his bed. His death indeed has been expected at any time during the past two years. He was thirty-three years of age. The late Father Drinan was a student at the Sacred Heart College, West Maitland, in his younger days, and from there he went to St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, and after completing his course of studies went to the Jesuit College, Riverview, to be trained as an ecclesiastic. After spending some time at the latter college, he was sent to Dublin to perfect his theological studies, and here he remained for a couple of years, eventually returning to Riverview, and in due course he was ordained to the priesthood. During the past few years he had visited Branxton on many occasions, and had the satisfaction of celebrating mass in his native town several times during these visits. The remains of the deceased ecclesiastic will be conveyed to Riverview for interment by mail train this evening. --- Death of Rev. W. Drinan, Evening News, Sydney, 14 December 1895, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108083284: West Maitland, Saturday.— The death is announced of the Rev. William Drinan, S.J., of Riverview College, Hunter's Hill, Sydney, and which took place last evening at his parents' residence in Maitland. The deceased gentleman was a native of this town, and was the eldest surviving son of Mr. Thomas Drinan. The family is an old and much-respected one, and much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents. The remains of the late rev. gentleman will be taken to Sydney by express train this evening for burial at North Shore. --- Personal, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 16 December 1895, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238538698: The remains of the Rev. W. Drinan, S.J., whose death at Branxton was reported on Saturday, were conveyed to Riverview by express train on Saturday night. Yesterday morning at the college the office for the dead was recited by the members of the order, after which the Superior the Very Rev. T. Kenny celebrated a requiem mass, and gave the absolution. Mr. T. Drinan, father, and Messrs. Frank and John Drinan, brothers of the deceased, who accompanied the remains from Branxton, assisted at all the ceremonies. The interment took place at 3 o'clock in the portion of the Gore-hill Cemetery set apart for the burial of the members of the Society of Jesus. The funeral arrangements were efficiently carried out by Mrs. Kirby, of Hunter-street. --- Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Priest; born Branxton, NSW, 22 March 1861; died Branxton, NSW, 13 December 1895, aged 34. After secondary education at St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, William Drinan entered the Society in Ireland at Milltown Park, Dublin, 7 July 1882, and finished his noviciate and juniorate in Australia at Richmond, Victoria, 1884-86. It seems that he developed consumption in Ireland and the Society accepted responsibility for his illness. As he was in poor health, 1886-87, the following year he went to St Aloysius' College, Bourke Street, where he taught, studied theology and was in charge of the hall. He received early ordination on 24 June 1892 from Cardinal Moran, and did some teaching at Riverview from 1893-95. His superiors were impressed with his learning and virtue. When he became very ill, he returned to his father's house at Branxton where finally he died. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.) |