MGR. JOSEPH DEAN, who for 16 years was rector of St. Joseph's, Up Holland, the I.iverpool archdiocesan seminary and who at 85 was the oldest priest of the archdiocese, died last Friday.
Born in Birkdale, near Southport, Lancs., he studied locally and at the Douai School in France and at St Joseph's, Up Holland. being ordained in 1901. After post-graduate studies at the Gregorian University, Rome, where he gained a dual doctorate in philosophy and divinity, he was appointed professor of Sacred Scripture at Up Holland, where he remained for the next 13 years.
By the end of the first world war there were no more students at Up Holland, and Fr. Dean was sent to look after the parish of
Great Eccleston-a considerable help when later he taught pastoral theology. In 1919, after seeing to the transfer of the students of St. Edward's, the junior seminary in Liverpool, to Up Holland, he was appointed vice-rector and procurator at Up Holland, becoming rector in 1926 and being made a domestic prelate in 1928.
PRIVILEGE
When he resigned in 1942 he became chaplain to the Good Shepherd Convent, Aughton, and, although increasing infirmity forced him to retire six years later. he remained at the convent until he had to enter hospital five weeks before his death. He was able to say Mass until a fortnight before his death, seated by privilege from the Holy See and Using the Missale Caecutientium.
In addition to his work as rector at Up Holland, he was able to translate the Gospels, of SS. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, for the Westminster Version in addition to writing, lecturing, and teaching.
His main preoccupation was the training of worthy priests, in which he was the supreme disciplinarian, intolerant of the. slightest deviation from rule. No sacrifice was too great to make in achieving the goal of the priesthood. and he regarded his future priests as chalices of beaten gold and himself as the craftsman.
His discipline was solidly based on his own self-abnegation and consuming piety and the high personal standard of devotion to duty he set.