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Dictionary of Miramichi Biography

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VERIKER, RICHARD (1800-1873)

VERIKER, RICHARD, Catholic parish priest, Chatham, 1849-60; b. Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, c1800; d. St Andrews, N.B., 1 Apr 1873.

By tradition, Richard Veriker was "of the Old Verikers of Moon Coin, Co. Kilkenny," and he was said to have been related to other persons of the same surname who settled on the Miramichi. As noted elsewhere, he came from Ireland in 1833 with Father Michael Egan. He was "in deacon's orders" at that time and was ordained soon afterwards.

Veriker was the priest at St Andrews, N.B., from 1836 to 1838. He was then sent to the north of the province to assist Father Egan, and during the next four years he had particular responsibility for the missions at Neguac, Bathurst, and Belledune. He was appointed as the first Catholic missionary at Woodstock in 1842, but in 1849 he returned to the Miramichi as successor to Father John Sweeny, the parish priest at Chatham. He retained this appointment for eleven years, until Bishop James Rogers arrived in 1860.

Veriker was ineffectual as a preacher but skilled in admonishing the flock. "He brought a good deal of hesitancy of speech to his homilies," stated Father William C. Gaynor, "but a most extraordinary fluency to his scoldings." The most celebrated of his diatribes, according to Gaynor, was the one which he delivered to his parishioners on the eve of his departure in 1842. "I'm about to lave you, I am," he shouted, "thanks be to God, and I'm not a haporth sorry. The good bishop - kind man that he is - the good bishop has taken pity on me and is sending me to a dacent people where I can live contented." He continued in this vein, "gradually working himself up to a proper pitch of passion," until he confronted his hearers with the whole lurid story of their vices and delinquencies. It was a sweltering day in August; the little church was crowded; and the air had become heavy. He appeared to be going to continue with his tirade when he suddenly "stammered, put his hand to his face, and then bawled out as a parting shot, 'You stink!'"

Tales about 'Toby', Veriker's "most eccentric servant," also passed into folklore. After leaving Chatham for the second time in 1860 he returned to St Andrews, where he was the parish priest until his death thirteen years later, at age seventy-three.

Sources

[d] Telegraph 2 Apr 1873 / Advance 26 Jun 1879, 20 Apr 1893; Advocate 9 Apr 1873; Broderick; Cockburn; Gleaner 11 Aug 1860; Globe 27 Aug 1887 (under Father Michael Egan); Hist. RC Diocese, Saint John; Memories; RC clergy files


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