Born in Dungarven, Ireland, 2 January 1830
Took the habit in Nancy, 24 December 1847
Oblation in N.-D. de l’Osier 25 December 1848 (No. 233)
Priestly ordination in Marseilles 4 July 1852
Died in Dungarven, Ireland on 24 September 1853.
Father Patrick Dalton was born in Dungarven, Ireland in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore on 2 January 1830. He began his novitiate in Nancy, France, on 24 December 1847. When the Revolution broke out in March 1848 Father Dassy sent the novices home. Brother Dalton returned temporarily to Everingham, England, but then returned to France to complete his novitiate in N.D. de l’Osier. He made his oblation on Christmas Day 1848 before Father Ambroise Vincens. He remained another year in N. D. de l’Osier for his philosophy studies (1848-1849) and then went on to the major seminary in Marseilles to study theology (1849-1852). His name comes up only once in the reports of Father Jean Marchal, the scholasticate formator. In July 1852 the latter wrote that on his arrival in 1849 the Brother was perfect but after being checked he “turned against everyone, his brothers, his teachers, and his superiors.” He respected only Bishop de Mazenod, “so he chose to have recourse to him whenever he was refused something.”
Bishop de Mazenod ordained him priest on 4 July 1852 and sent him immediately to England with Father Bellon the General Visitor of the British Province and with Brother Fox. He served in Everingham. However his health deteriorated and in June 1853 he was advised to return to Ireland where he died on 24 September 1853.
His death is noted in the Codex Historicus of Lys Marie, Sicklinghall: “1853 September 24. Saturday and Feast of Our Lady of Mercy death of dear Father Dalton in Dungarven Waterford Ireland. He was there since past June; by the advice of medical men he left Everingham for his country place. The cause of his sickness and death has been an excessive labour on past Lent at York where he heard confessions a long while fasting, taking but little nourishment. He was not prudent enough in his great zeal. His last words were these: O Mary, come, meet me. Fifty priests and the Bishop attended his funerals. Fr. Cooke arrived a little too late at Dungarven.”
He was the first Oblate to die in Ireland; he was buried in Dungarven. The Founder laments his death in a letter to Father Arnoux dated 22 October 1853.
Yvon Beaudoin
and Michael Hughes, o.m.i.
