Is there a doctor in the House? (continued)
Letter from Fr. Neil Davin, C.P.
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To Fr. Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
The Passionist Heritage provides a great service to our province. In response to the Spring issue, I submit the following. It may not be what you are looking for, and so I'll not be disappointed if you do not use it.
Our class was ordained on Feb. 28, 1952, at St. Michael's church by Bishop McNulty. About two months prior to that date, my classmate, Morgan Hanlon (now deceased) was diagnosed with hepatitis. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken.
For several months I had been aware of great fatigue and other symptoms of illness. I had gone to the doctor twice, but each time I was assured there was nothing to worry about! In those days almost nothing was known about hepatitis. Just a week before ordination I felt so bad that the house physician ordered me to go to the hospital immediately. I had an advanced case of the disease. There was uncertainty as to whether I would be ordained, until the very eve of the ordination! I was taken to St. Michael's in an ambulance, carried in on a stretcher, and sat in a wheel chair during the ceremony. Immediately afterward, I was returned to St. Mary's. I was not able to say Mass even in the hospital until May 15th. Within a few weeks of Ordination, eleven of my classmates were in St. Mary's with the same disease. During that time (and this is the part which I think may be relevant to your request) the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis and the parishioners of St. Michael's and St. Joseph's could not have been kinder and more solicitous for us. All eventually recovered.
Last year we celebrated our 50th anniversary. The seven who are still living are actively engaged in the priestly ministry. Two are on the foreign missions, three in the Pastoral Conselling and Sacramental ministry, one is the Dean of Theology in an outstanding College in the North East, and one is Associate Judicial Vicar in a New Jersey diocese.
Fraternally in the Lord,
Neil Davin C.P.
Note: My profession name is "Cornelius." For several years I have used "Neil" an Irish variant of the same. In Latin both are "Cornelius."
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