FR TREAND MSC, 90th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.
Fr Peter Treand, parish priest of Randwick for many years, was a father of the Australian MSC Province and first Provincial Superior. The Provincial House in Coogee is named after him.
Some Googling has come up with his obituary notice, his funeral notice and a report of his silver jubilee - all tributes to him as a person, priest and MSC.
THE REV. FATHER P. TREAND.
In May, 1926, a great sorrow fell to the lot of the Randwick people, plunging the parish in gloom, for their venerated Pastor, Father Treand, who for thirty-five years had ministered to them, sharing their joys and sorrows, was called to his eternal reward. Although the people were not wholly unprepared for his death, the sad news nevertheless came as a painful shock, for they hoped against hope that God would hearken to their prayers, and restore their well-loved Father to his flock.
And a Father in truth he was to all. The suffering, the aged, the sick and the dying, were his especial care. And how he loved the children! A "First Communion Day" was to him a day of purest delight, and his thoughts might easily have found expression in the simple words: "Ah! Heaven I think must be always quite like a "First Communion Day", so eagerly did he enter into the happiness of the little ones.
Father Treand had the spiritual interests of his flock very much at heart. Every Sunday saw him in the pulpit, sometimes both morning and evening, and his thoughts always beautiful and original, gave special significance to his words. Every evening found him in his Confessional, and every morning after he had celebrated Mass he set out to visit the stricken ones of his flock, bearing with him Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to be their comfort and consolation.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick.
OBITUARY NOTICE
The death occurred at Lewisham Hospital yesterday of the Rev. Father Peter Treand, M.S.C., Provincial Superior in Australia, of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and for 35 years parish priest of Randwick. Few priests were better known throughout Australia.
Born in Switzerland 69 years ago, and trained for the work of his missionary order in its French college, Father Treand served in France and at St. Alban's, England, before he came to New South Wales to act as parish priest of Randwick, and to establish the order of the Sacred Heart, within the colony. To him was due chief credit for the building of the order's monastery at Kensington, and the Apostolic School, at Douglas Park.
The funeral will take place at the Randwick Cemetery this morning.
OLSH Randwick, interior.
FUNERAL REPORT
The funeral of the Rev. Father Peter Treand, for 35 years parish priest of Randwick, took place on Saturday morning from the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, where a solemn office and requiem mass was celebrated.
The Very Rev. Father Treand, M.S.C., died early on Friday morning, at Lewisham prívate hospital.
He was born in Hermance, Switzerland, on November 25, 1856, and was ordained as a priest in 1883, coming to Sydney in 1891. Father Treand was placed in charge of the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at Randwick, where he laboured zealously until his death.
The esteem in which the deceased was held was amply evidenced by the crowd which thronged the Church of the Sacred Heart long before the appointed hour for the commencement of the service on Saturday morning. About 100 surpliced priests were present. Archbishop Kelly presided, and was attended by Monsignor Moynagh (Balmain), and Monsignor O'Gorman (Parramatta). The clergy present included many members of the Order of the Sacred Heart, to which the deceased belonged.
Other clergy present included:—Rev. T. Phelan (Chancellor of the Archdiocese), Monsignor Hayden (rector of St. Patrick's College, Manly). The Randwick Municipal Council was represented by Alderman H. Goldstein (Deputy Mayor), Alderman J. A. Bardon, and Mr. W. K. Percival (town clerk). St Vincent de Paul's Society was represented by Mr J. L. Mullen (president of the Superior Council), Mr. W. J. Coogan (president of the Particular Council), Messrs. Clune, Ryan, Kearney, and Cohen (Randwick branch), and Mr. J. McNamara (Bondi Junction branch). The A.H.C. Guild was represented by Messrs. W. Magee, Lannen, McNally, and W. J. McGee. The debating society was represented by Messrs. D. G. Lee and B. Foulke, and the Hibernians by Messrs. M. McKeough and J. J. O'Loughlin.
Archbishop Kelly delivered the panagyric.
OLSH Randwick, interior.
FOR THE RECORD: FATHER TREAND'S SILVER JUBILEE AS PARISH PRIEST
In September, 1916, a magnificent demonstration took place when the Catholic people of Randwick and Coogee and many non-Catholic friends assembled to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the arrival in Randwick of the Very Rev. Father Treand, M.S.C. Mr. Thomas Payten occupied the chair, and paid a high tribute to Father Treand's work in Randwick during the past twenty-five years. The Secretary of the Committee, Mr. L. J. Dew, also spoke in glowing terms of Father Treand, and on behalf of the people presented an address, outlining the vast work achieved by the devoted Pastor of Randwick.
The Very Rev. Father Smith, M.S.C., speaking on behalf of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, said, "I deem it a very great honour to be called upon to express in the name of Father Treand's Australian children, the Australian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, some of our feelings of gratitude and sentiments of esteem. I say some of these feelings, because most of them are too deep and sacred for expression and are best vented in the silence of prayer. It is twenty-five years since Father Treand set foot on Australian soil. The day of his landing has proved for Australians and Australia a blessed day and in the name of both I now say with a full heart, "Thanks be to God."
Father Smith went on to speak of Father Treand's great work in building the Monastery, but not content with this, how he added to his financial burden by securing large property at Douglas Park, where the Apostolic School is now established, the nursery of future Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
When Father Treand rose to reply, he was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
"I am deeply moved," said the venerated priest, "almost overcome by this demonstration of your esteem and affection. If the lips speak out of the fulness of the heart, I should have no difficulty in replying to your various addresses, in thanking you for your gift, but there is a fulness of emotion that renders a man almost speechless."
In tracing backward the work of the past twenty-five years, Father Treand referred to the beginnings of the Kensington Monastery when many were the prophecies made about its future, most of them far from being bright and encouraging, but the work was blessed by the late Cardinal, who often said that Australia like the dear old Island of the West, would yet become a great Missionary country. And God had blessed the work. Kensington soon proved insufficient; Douglas Park was later on added to it, and Douglas Park was already enlarging its tents. The priests educated at Kensington numbered close on fifty, working in various fields in Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and New Guinea. Kensington is proud of having given five of its sons as chaplains to our troops at the front.
Amongst the visitors on this occasion was the Rev. Canon Cakebread of St. Jude's, Randwick, who paid a glowing tribute to Father Treand's work.