Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap.

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Western Vicariate Fr. Alban, O.M. Cap. WHEN it was bruited abroad in the Cape Peninsula that the genial and popular Capuchin Friar, Fr. Alban Cullen, had gone to California, and his cheery company would no longer be enjoyed in the Cape, a feeling akin to consternation was uppermost in the hearts of his friends who were legion here. Fr. Alban Cullen arrived in Cape Town some nine years ago and took over what was then a struggling, obscure little mission, known as St. Raphael's, Athlone, Cape Flats, and now, on his departure, we find a handsome and commodious church, standing in a well-laid-out shrubbery, well fenced and with a fine iron entrance gate. We also find a dignified and roomy presbytery. The school, which at the good priest's arrival was housed in one small building, is now a large collection of fine class-rooms, where hundreds of poor children learn to be useful members of society and devout members of the Church. Fr. Alban introduced the Holy Cross Sisters, a Community which cannot be surpassed in its handling of the problem of the education of half-caste children. OWN ARCHITECT When we admire the imposing group of buildings which now constitute the Athlone Mission we must not forget that Fr. Alban worked on these buildings as architect, overseer, brick-layer and even excavated many of the foundations. He also was the pioneer of an outstation known as the Welcome Estate and worked in the heavy sand transporting the material for the construction of a mission chapel which he built, and which is now a centre of religion. Many of the clergy, not to speak of hundreds of parishioners, will miss the cheery presence of this fine Irish friar and will wish him well in the country to which he has returned, where he earned his first laurels and which we are glad he left for some years in order to work in South Africa. His work will now be carried on by his confreres and Athlone will always be a more ument to his energy and zeal. W.J.L.