Gabriel was a charismatic man who gave his life to preaching, praying and spreading the Rosary.
He was born in Dublin in 1921 and joined the Dominicans in 1949.
He was a past pupil of Coláiste Mhuire. There was a statue over the main door of the entrance to the school and on one occasion giving a retreat to students of the school he said that every day he entered the school he felt he was walking into the arms of Mary.
After school he studied for priesthood at Clonliffe College and was ordained a priest for the Dublin archdiocese in 1945, where he worked for three years, serving as a curate in Cabra. He subsequently joined the Irish Dominican Province.
He had the honour of being the oldest member of the province.
Gabriel was a kindly person with an extraordinary work ethic. He was a prolific writer and managed and edited the Rosary Letter for many years. It is fair to say the publication was at its most vibrant under his editorship.
His Rosary apostolate started on the buses.
CIE, as Dublin Bus was called 'back in the day', had a custom of running ghost buses. They were buses to bring drivers and conductors home after driving the last buses of the day. Gabriel travelled on these buses preaching and saying the Rosary.
Today CIE is name of the holding company for the three State owned transport companies.
On one occasion he flew by sea plane from Foynes to Lisbon, where he preached on the Rosary.
In 1968 he was elected prior of the Dominican community in Pope's Quay Cork but quickly realised it was not his forte and had the wisdom and courage to resign his priorship so as to give all of his energy to the preaching and spreading the Rosary, which dominated his life's work.
Gabriel was a man who thought 'outside the box' long before it became fashionable. He was also a rogue - in the nicest understanding of that word.
In his mid-90s it was his practice to travel by rail from Newry to Dublin and then take the Luas to the Dominican priory in Tallaght, pushing and pulling his case.
Gabriel was assigned to the Dominican priory in Dundalk and died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
His funeral Mass takes place today at midday at St Malachy's Priory, Dundalk, followed by burial at St Patrick's cemetery.
He would be delighted to know that his funeral Mass is taking place on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. That roguish smile of his would radiate a room.
Gabriel was a man who thought 'outside the box' long before it became fashionable. He was also a rogue - in the nicest understanding of that word.
In his mid-90s it was his practice to travel by rail from Newry to Dublin and then take the Luas to the Dominican priory in Tallaght, pushing and pulling his case.
Gabriel was assigned to the Dominican priory in Dundalk and died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
His funeral Mass takes place today at midday at St Malachy's Priory, Dundalk, followed by burial at St Patrick's cemetery.
He would be delighted to know that his funeral Mass is taking place on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. That roguish smile of his would radiate a room.
1 comment:
A noble man, gone home to God.
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