Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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6 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW years, filled with much success that perennial want of Choir Master in the College where he spent so many years, and whose interest he had so much at heart. As was said above, Father Coffee travelled а great deal; and we find him first in New Orleans and then in California shortly after his Noviceship. His poor health had necessitated this change, and in compliance with the same desire of his Superiors, he went to make his Third Year in Spain. Possibly one of the places where his sterling worth made the deepest impress was at the Soo, where, however, he lived but one year, as Curate in the Sacred Heart Parish. It was there that he revealed himself as a preacher of no slight merit, when, at the funeral of a great steel magnate, he held spell-bound for nearly an hour, a congregation more than one half non-Catholic. After this long lapse of years the parishioners of Sault Ste. Marie still recall with love and veneration the sturdy form and generous heart of this Lawyer-Priest. Loyola College, Montreal, was next to profit by his good business judgment and his experience in all matters financial and administrative. Here he spent three or four years in the office, and acted as adviser to the late regretted Father Gregory O'Bryan, S.J. He was likewise Bursar for а time at St. Boniface College, St. Boniface, Manitoba. Later he was stationed at the Church of Our Lady, in his native city, Guelph. Here, among other good works, he founded the St. John's Club, which, due to his fine spirit of enthusiasm and energy, was, and is still, a flourishing organisation. For several years after leaving Guelph he was Parish Priest of St. Ignatius, Winnipeg, where he laid the foundations of the new Church of St. Ignatius, established an efficient parish school, and soon won for himself the esteem and love both of his parishoners and of all those with whom his work brought him into contact. When, in 1913, it was decided to build the new Loyola College in Notre Dame de Gráce, Montreal, Father Coffee was asked by the Rector, Rev. Father MacMahon, S.J., to look after the business details connected with the enter- prise. This his great financial ability and practical business sense enabled him to do most efficiently, while still occupied with the administration of the Winnipeg parish, until his failing health obliged him to relinquish the latter responsibilities. In the fall of 1915, Father Coffee's health was such that the doctors ordered him to go to California for the winter. This he did, but the improvement was slight, if any. He returned to Montreal in the spring of 1916, and though his condition was becoming more and more precarious, he still took an active interest in the financial affairs of Loyola College, until he was taken to the Hotel-Dieu hospital on August 18th. Неге he underwent an operation which afforded him but little relief. Until his death, on the morning of September 26th, his sufferings were very intense, but. these he bore with the greatest patience and resignation, ever cheerful and confident in the goodness of the Master he had served so well. The next day, Father Coffee's body was brought to Loyola College where. it remained till evening, when it was taken to Guelph, accompanied by Rev. Father MacMahon, S.J. The Requiem Mass and funeral service took place there, in the Church of Our Lady, at nine o'clock, on the morning of Friday, September 29th. Many priests from the surrounding parishes were present in

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LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 5 THE REVEREND JOHN C. COFFEE, S.J. The subject of this brief sketch was born in Guelph, Ontario, October Ist, 1857. Nothing distinctive or very characteristic appears among his boyish traits. He was in most ways a boy like other boys, full of life and vigour, much given to the pranks and games of his fellows, and not in any striking manner pious or studious. Some few traits of his earlier years, which, as his life wore on, became more accentuated, are worthy of notice here. He had always what we familiarly call a heart of gold, and his sympathetic nature showed itself where it should always be felt most, in his own home. The third eldest of eight children, three boys and five girls, he not only showed his strong love for his parents, especially his mother, but insisted that the other children should do likewise. Another trait of his young days, which grew with him and remained strong to the end, was his love of truth and manliness. This he showed in his blunt, fearless fashion, often at the cost of a shiver to his friends; but they soon learned to see the royal heart hidden under the rough cover, and only valued him the more when they came to know him. Even as a boy, Father Coffee was very fond of travel and adventure. Many amusing stories are told of his childish wanderings, of the unconscious anxiety he caused his parents when he did not return from school or play. This trait, too, like others mentioned, remained strong with him to the very last; and, no doubt in return for his many splendid qualities and his great generosity in God's service, Providence furnished him with the means of satis- fying this longing to the fullest extent. His travels, however, were always in view of some good subject. There were no mere ''rolling-stone journeyings, and wherever he went he made good use of all his faculties to gather that spiritual moss, which was to aid his fellowmen and give glory to God. Father Coffee's primary and high school education was gone through in Guelph. Later on we meet him at Fordham College, New York, where he completed his classical studies. He then began the study of Law in Guelph, and was admitted to the Bar in 1881. His sojourn at Fordham seemed to strengthen the longings he had always displayed for the life of a Jesuit Father, and during the five years that he practised Law—and with considerable success —his thoughts turned frequently to that higher life in which he was to do so much in his own quiet way. At this time we find in the young lawyer a gift which few, if any, would expect to find in such a business-like form and manner as his. For years he had been one of Father Fleck's favourite singers, and the thorough training he received in this branch of culture fitted him to succeed his old Choir Master, when Father Fleck was called back to St. Mary's College, Montreal. Those who knew Father Coffee in his younger years will recall his broad intimacy with the then classic school of religious music and the special delight with which he trained the Novices at Sault-au-Recollet for feast Benedictions or Holy Week services. He himself had a rich bass voice, and if poor health and weak lungs had not interfered with this natural gift, he might have, in later

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—————— LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 7 the Sanctuary; the church could not hold the crowds that came to show their love for one who had laboured so kindly among them; while the school children lined both sides of the approach to the church and the bystanders stood with uncovered heads, watching in silence the funeral cortege as it left the church on its way to the new Jesuit cemetery at St. Stanislaus' Novitiate, where the interment took place. Speaking of Father Coffee’s death, the Guelph Herald said: ''His broad- mindedness and universal charity gave a special charm to his exemplary and priestly life, and his loss will be felt for many a long day by his host of friends, his sorrowing relatives and his brothers in religion. R. I. P. THE REVEREND JOHN C. COFFEE, S.J. (In Memoriam) Father and friend! Two words and all is told Of how on earth were lived thy useful days. Now art thou gone! The Angels sing thy praise, But oh! we sorely miss thy heart of gold! Beloved by men, but yet a hundredfold Dearer to God! Thine were the Master's ways, The weak to strengthen, fallen hopes to raise; Thy glory—countless aching griefs consol'd. No loud encomium wouldst thou approve, In such thy humble soul could ne'er delight; The high approval of thy Sovereign Lord Of all thy deeds was made the sole reward. But in thy goodness thou wilt judge aright The lowly tribute of a brother's love. J ESBS S: