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Barquilla De Ia Santa Maria BULLETIN of the Catholic Record Society­ Diocese of Columbus

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Barquilla De Ia Santa Maria BULLETIN of the Catholic Record Society­ Diocese of Columbus Barquilla de Ia Santa Maria BULLETIN of the Catholic Record Society­ Diocese of Columbus Vol. XXVI, No. 3 Mar. 17: St. Patrick March, AD. 2001 And how goes things with you today? Father Edmond Ceslaus McEniry, O.P. by J. Michael Finn, Ohio State Historian, Ancient Order of Hibernians The Diocese of Columbus has always been well served by the men and women of a variety of religious orders. The Order of Preachers has provided many individuals who made significant contributions to both the religious and secular life of the Columbus community. One such Dominican was Father Edmond Ceslaus McEniry, O.P. For twenty-six years "Father Mac" served as a professor at Aquinas College High School and as Chaplain at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Columbus. This article will review his life and his accomplishments. It will also help to correct the historical record regarding Father's assignments after leaving Columbus. Born in Ireland Edmond Joseph McEniry was born in Ballyvistea Townland, Emly Parish, County Tipperary, Ireland on April 11 , 1891 . His parents were David and Mary (Burke) McEniry. It is reported Father McEniry in 1927 that they had 10 children. The siblings that have been documented are a brother, Michael, who Edmond was educated at the National School at lived in New York, and another brother in Emly, Ireland. In 1911 he immigrated to the Ireland, whose name is unknown to us, who United States, arriving in New York City. In the apparently inherited the family farm near Emly. city he lived with his brother, Michael, at 344 Another brother died in France in 1918, fighting Third Ave. and later at 231 E. 34th Street. In with the l 32nd Regiment, Chicago Infantry. 1911 he enrolled in Xavier High School, a Jesuit Father McEniry visited this brother's grave in military day school in New York City. Being an France in 1931. Mary (Burke) McEniry, the older student (age 20) placed him in a "special" mother, died in Ireland on May 11 , 1934 at the category at the school. Older students were not age of 86 years. uncommon at the Jesuit high school. His brother 115 Michael is listed on the school records as as chaplain at Mt. Carmel." This would indicate Edmond's "parent or guardian". Edmond that his appointment as chaplain came in 1923, finished the school in 3 years, graduating on June soon after his assignment in Columbus, although 15, 1914. TheXavierHighSchoolCataloguefor his position at the hospital, at that time, was likely 1913-1914 lists him as a graduate among forty­ not full-time. four other students. A supef.ior student, Edmond received honorable mention for the Silver Medal The first mention of Father McEniry in the Mt. class honors at Xavier. Carmel archives, however, does not appear until October 5, 1924 when he served as a Subdeacon Following his graduation, Edmond applied for at Mass. Subsequent entries relate to Father admittance to the Dominican Order. Only three offering Mass, speaking, and passing out months after graduation, on September 14, diplomas at the Mt. Carmel Nursing School 1914, he received the Dominican habit at St. graduation ceremonies. Joseph's Priory, near Somerset, Ohio. One year later on September 16, 1915 he was professed as On October 6, 1936 Mt. Carmel celebrated its a member of the Order of Preachers. From 1915 Golden Jubilee. A formal dinner was held at the until 1922 Father McEniry studied at the hospital. Columbus attorney John A Connor Dominican House of Studies in Washington, served as toastmaster for the event. The D. C. He also attended the Catholic University of Columbus Dispatch reported: "Speakers on this America during that time ( 1916-1917 and 1921- occasion will include Bishop James J. Hartley, 1922). Father E. McEniry, Hospital Chaplain~ Dr. J. Mitchell Dunn, Dr. Edwin Stedem and Dr. Edmond McEniry was ordained in Washington Charles E. Turner. Sister Constantine, D.C. on June 12, 1921 by Bishop John T. Superintendent of the hospital, is in charge of McNicholas, O.P. (then Bishop of Duluth and arrangements." The Aquinas Patrician reported later Archbishop of Cincinnati). Father McEniry that Father McEniry was the principal speaker at was given the religious name Ceslaus. His first the banquet. In his speech Father praised the assignment after ordination came in 1922 when Doctors of Mt. Carmel. He said, "May you raise he was sent to Columbus. His duties were to the standard of this hospital to the highest serve as professor at Aquinas College High mountain of success~ and by doing so bring School and as Chaplain to Mt. Carmel Hospital. imperishable glory to yourselves and well­ deserved honor to Mt. Carmel." Mt. Carmel Hospital On October 1, 1940 Father McEniry was Mt. Carmel Hospital had been founded in 1885 officially relieved of his teaching duties at and the third addition to the hospital had been Aquinas High School and was appointed full­ completed in 1921, just before Father McEniry's time chaplain at the hospital. However, he was arrival. The Sisters of the Holy Cross operated not content with just performing his full-time the hospital. It was located on the near west side chaplain duties. Father McEniry enrolled in of Columbus. It is clear from the Dominican winter and spring quarters at Ohio State records and from Father McEniry's own writings University. He attended 4 quarters at OSU that his original assignment in Columbus between 1941 and 1942. In 1944 Father included both the teaching position at Aquinas as McEniry returned to teaching at Aquinas High well as the chaplain position at Mt. Carmel School, still retaining his full-time status at Mt. Hospital. Father writes in 1948 of his, "25 years Carmel. 116 Aquinas College High School from Aquinas College to assist the injured and dying inmates. Father O'Brien was Associate Aquinas College High School was an all-boys Pastor of St. Patrick's Church and Catholic school in Columbus that was run by the Chaplain at the Penitentiary (see the Bulletin, Dominicans. Father McEniry was assigned there Vol. XXIII, No. 10, October 1998). as a professor. Father's early teaching assignments must have been English and writing The fire was the worst in Columbus history and related as his first publishing effort came in 1923. the worst fire in the history of American prisons. He served as arranger and editor of a small Three hundred twenty-two inmates were killed volume of collected stories and essays written by in the fire and hundreds were injured (85 of the the boys of Aquinas. It was called A Book for dead were Catholic). Father O'Brien, Father Boys. The book covered various topics such as McEniry and their fellow Dominican and sports, reports on field trips and humor. Soon diocesan priests provided assistance, comfort after that in 1924 Father was assigned as and the Last Rites to many dying and injured moderator of the student Literary Society at prisoners. Father McEniry narrowly missed Aquinas, which included the publication of the becoming a casualty himself when a collapsing school's student newspaper, The Patrician. wall piled debris where he had been standing only seconds before. In 193 3, Following the untimely An article in The Patrician on March 6, 1935 death of Father O'Brien, Father McEniry wrote a described Father McEniry as being, "Among the book describing the heroism and courage best know and well liked teachers at Aquinas." displayed by the young Irish prison chaplain. The article went on to state, "Father McEniry is a teacher who is interested in his work and his aid Father McEniry and Father O'Brien were from to students is always appreciated. It is only the same area in County Tipperary, Ireland and hoped that for many years to come, his smiling they attended the same National School. Both face shall be seen around the school" It is priests are reported to have traveled to Ireland in recorded that Father taught Modern Languages 1931. There is a strong possibility, although not at the school. confirmed, that since they were from the same area and given Father O'Brien's delicate health The Aquinas Archive indicates that Father that was made worse by his exertions during the McEniry was assigned there from 1922 until fire, that they may have taken this trip together. 1940 and then again from 1944-1948. This agrees with published accounts that he was Fr. McEniry's Silver Jubilee relieved of his Aquinas duties in order to become full-time Chaplain at Mt. Carmel Hospital. He In June 1946 Father McEniry celebrated his 25th returned to Aquinas in 1944, however it appears year in the priesthood. The communities of that he was only teaching one class, that being Aquinas and Mt. Carmel helped him celebrate. Public Speaking. On Sunday, June 9, 1946 at St. Patrick's Church in Columbus, Father McEniry sang a solemn The Ohio Penitentiary Fire High Mass of thanksgiving. Assisting at Mass were Fr. J. J. Costello, O.P., Pastor of St. On Easter Monday, April 21, 1930 the Ohio Patrick's and Fr. J. F. Monroe, O.P., President of Penitentiary in Columbus caught fire. Soon after Aquinas College. Delivering the sermon was Fr. the fire began, Father Albert O'Brien, O.P called Justine McManus, O.P., Pastor of St. Thomas upon Father McEniry and four other Dominicans Aquinas Church in Zanesville, Ohio and former 117 President of Aquinas College from 1927 until former students or former hospital patients 1931 . would stop and greet him on the street. Father also became well known to local and state Later that day, at 12:30 p.m.
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