A rough country to travel, King Country
It was while performing the hard work of his huge and scattered parish that Father William Croke sowed the seeds of his demise. The 28-year-old priest was stationed at Kihikihi, his duties requiring long journeys on horseback and he suffered many hardships reaching the outer districts.
The priest with the remarkably sweet nature, who made friends among all denominations, had come to Kihikihi from Auckland’s St Patrick’s cathedral in 1899 to take charge of the Waikato West district after the death of Father Luck. Father Croke, however, was in somewhat overworked and weakened health, and for some weeks at Kihikihi was laid up with pleurisy and only able to say one mass a Sunday. Once recovered, he endeared himself to all. He was a sprightly scholar, too, and engaged in a prolonged but friendly newspaper letter exchange with Te Awamutu’s Presbyterian minister Rev Smith reflecting on the Roman Catholic faith.
In 1901, in the course of his work, he was drenched by rain and contracted a lingering cold which significantly impaired his health. Doctors recommended he try a hot climate for a change. He was transferred back to Auckland. His Kihikihi parishioners held a farewell social for him, which was a great success, although very short notice had been given.
Several speeches were made praising the good work done by him, noting the high esteem in which he was held throughout the parish and wishing him every success in his “new sphere of usefulness”. Father Croke replied that he felt great sorrow at leaving the district. He had endeavoured to do his duty there as a gentleman, a citizen, and a priest.
Father Croke would later leave Auckland for the warmer climate of Gisborne and then travel to Australia where he took charge of the parish of Barcaldine, in Rockhampton. In February 1902 he returned to New Zealand suffering from consumption (tuberculosis) and proceeded at once to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital at Mount Eden to be cared for by the Sisters of Mercy. Six months later parishioners were pleased to see him once more in the sanctuary at St Patrick’s, quite a number waiting for him outside after Mass.
During early 1903 he travelled between Auckland and Gisborne before deciding to take the long journey home to Tipperary, Ireland to see his family. In March he left on the Sierra bound for San Francisco. With a friend named Mr Fox, Father Croke crossed the Pacific, and by easy stages reached Philadelphia, arriving in late May.
They were to transfer to the Belgenland and sail two days later for Ireland. But the vessel had been put back two days, and disheartened by the delay, Father Croke’s courage gave way.
He was taken to St Joseph’s Hospital where he grew rapidly worse, despite the care of the Sisters of St Vincent de Paul and died aged 32. He was buried in the priests’ plot at Holy Cross Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Father Croke, who had left his homeland for missions in a distant country that would prove fatal to him, was mourned at Kihikihi and the wider Waikato West district.
A rough country to travel, King Country
