†Fr. Charles Newell, OCD

One dark night, fired with love’s urgent longing…I went out unseen. These words, which introduce St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night, summaries the life of our dear brother and father, whose heart refused to find solace in mundane ambitions and honours, who did not shrink from leaving the comfort of his homeland and sacrificially offered himself for God’s service, whose heart, “fired with love’s urgent longing,” found joy in going out to the needy, giving to the point of prodigality. This is the man whose exemplary life will continue to inspire and edify us, his children – the Discalced Carmelites in Nigeria.

Hubert Joseph Newell was born on July 1, 1923 in Curracuggeen, Headford, Co Galway, Ireland. He received his primary education in the local Kilcoona National School and his secondary education at St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam. While the young Hubert Joseph was at St. Jarlath’s, a Carmelite Father, promoting vocations for the Order, came to have a talk with the students. Hubert Joseph, already aware of his call to the religious life, showed great interest in what the vocations promoter had to say; and, learning that devotion to Our Lady was a priority in the Carmelite Order, Hubert Joseph felt that Carmel was his place. He, typical of his Irish roots and like his beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux, was also very interested in the missions.

Upon completing his studies at St. Jarlath’s, Hubie (as he is fondly called by his family members) hastened to apply and was admitted into the Discalced Carmelite Novitiate in Loughrea. His novitiate was, however, interrupted when he fell victim to typhoid and was hospitalized. He had a lengthy convalescence. After his recovery, Hubie made his first religious profession on July 16, 1943, choosing the name, Friar Charles of Thérèse of the Child Jesus. He continued his formation to the priesthood, studying Philosophy in the Carmelite Seminary, Donnybrook, Dublin. However, Charles was not destined to remain in Dublin.

World War II saw the closure of many of Europe’s seminaries, including that of the Carmelites in Rome. By September 2, 1945, the war had ended, enabling the seminaries to reopen. Carmelite authorities in Rome then asked each province to choose some of their students to continue their studies in Rome. Charles was chosen with Brother Finian Monahan from the Irish Province to travel to Rome in 1946. On April 23, 1950, both men, with their companions from around the world, were ordained priests by Venerable Pope Pius XII.

After a short stay in Rome following his ordination, Fr. Charles returned to Dublin where he taught Moral Theology to the students for five years in Gayfield. He also ministered to the sick. The plight of patients in what was known as “The Incurables” really touched him. On one occasion he arrived to find the gates locked and climbed the wall to administer the Sacraments.
He returned to Rome as the English speaking Secretary General of the Order and Prior of the Generalate Community. He served as Secretary General for many years and for many Fathers General, including Finian Monahan. He also taught Moral Theology at the Carmelite Pontifical Institute, Teresianum, Rome.

During his time in Rome, Fr. Charles met with Popes Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II, introducing many Irish priests to the Holy Fathers. He also had the pleasure of meeting with Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1987. At the end of his stay in Rome at the age of 65, Fr. Charles embarked on his missionary calling. On April 6, 1988, he left the Generalate to become one of the founding fathers of the Discalced Carmelite Mission in Nigeria. He loved Nigeria, he loved her people and repeatedly insisted that he would want to be buried here. That is to say, he totally embraced the missionary life that he now began to live.

Fr. Charles spent 27 years in Nigeria during which he was the first Regional Superior of the Nigerian Carmel, formator, prior, the first Carmelite Parish Priest of Mary the Queen Parish, Ekpoma, Edo State. He was the first Prior of Mount Carmel Prayer Center, Enugu and the first Carmelite National Promoter of the Infant Jesus Devotion. He also served at Tabor Carmelite Community, Nsukka. A venerable pioneer, Fr. Charles is known here among the friars as Papa — and that is what he really was for us.

As the years went by, he got weak physically, but he kept taking part in the daily celebration of the Eucharist, even on the day he was rushed to the hospital unconscious. Fr. Charles’ love and devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist is well known. Even at 90 he still loved to genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament and made sure his knee touched the floor.

Padre Carlo (as he was called in Rome) replicated in his daily life that self-giving which the Holy Eucharist speaks of. Papa was always willing to share what he had with the poor. He literally gave until he had nothing left; and many people whose lives he positively touched acknowledge their indebtedness to him. No wonder he founded the Prison Apostolate (which is today the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization – CAPIO) to promote the welfare of prisoners.

Papa was a religious to the core. He greatly enjoyed the company of the brothers, even in his old age. Fr. Charles kept participating in community prayers with all the health challenges he endured: mobility, hearing, talking. He severally insisted on attending community meetings even if it meant dosing off intermittently there. Yes, he was that demanding on himself. Papa further enhanced fraternity in the community through his good sense of humour and by showing gratitude to anyone who showed him even the minutest of favours. Thanks a million and God bless you were frequently on his lips. It was also habitual for him to invoke God’s blessings on those who took care of him in his old age. Through this he showed himself a true Moral Theologian, not just in the classroom but also in the practical events of his daily life.

Worthy of note is Fr. Charles’ forgiving heart. A simple I am sorry was enough to make him forget whatever offence committed against him. He showed this same spirit in the confessional. A true confessor, Papa was always ready to reconcile sinners with God. In his old age, he always carried in his pocket the formula for absolution (for his memory was failing him), ready to administer the sacrament of Reconciliation to any penitent who approached him. He never finished the prayer of absolution without adding some other prayer or blessing suited for the penitent’s need. He was indeed a bridge maker, for that is what a priest is.

Fr. Charles drew his nourishment from prayer. His Rosary never left his bed side and he never left his room without it. He could be seen praying it whenever he was not occupied with other things. His life of prayer confirmed the words of the Psalmist: mihi autem adherere Deo bonum est (But it is good for me to be near God — Ps. 73:28).
Indeed, he left this world to the great beyond to be with God as he peacefully rested in the Lord on January 13, 2016.

Papa, we cannot but thank God for the great gift you were to us. Your fatherliness will really be missed. But it would amount to greed if we asked God to keep you further. You deserve to rest from the toils and sufferings that marked your final years. And we are certain that the good Lord has granted you that. Therefore, we ask you never to abandon the garden you planted. With your beloved Thérèse, shower from the Father’s bosom flowers of divine graces on the Carmel to which you gave roots in Nigeria. Adieu our beloved pioneer, brother and father, till we meet to part no more!

But the souls of the just are in the hand of the God’ (Wisdom 3:1). For to us, God’s faithful people, ‘life is changed, not ended’ (Preface Christian death). Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of our deceased brothers and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace – Amen.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of the God’ (Wisdom 3:1).  For to us, God’s faithful people, ‘life is changed, not ended’ (Preface Christian death).  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them.  May the souls of our deceased brothers and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace – Amen.