FATHER, GRANT EVERLASTING LIFE TO WISE AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS PLACED IN CHARGE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.
- 2013
Rev Peter O'Reilly SVD
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Born 13/02/1925; Ordained 15/08/1954 - Divine Word Missionaries.
Peter was born in in Sydney, the eldest of three children. After high school he was influenced by his parish priest, Fr John Tschauder SVD, to join the new SVD seminary in Marburg, Queensland. After novitiate, he went to Techny USA for his theological studies. Peter took final vows in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1954.
His first mission assignment was PNG and he was sent to Wewak in 1955. One of his first tasks upon arriving there was to lay the terrazzo floor of the Cathedral – which even on his visit to PNG in 2005 showed no cracks at all. Peter commented later in life that a missionary is often asked to turn his hands to many things. After an introductory time in a bush parish he was appointed Director of Education for the Catholic Diocese of Wewak. He was asked to set up a school for candidates for the Sacred Heart Brothers, a local religious order begun by Bishop Arkfeld SVD.
Recognizing Peter's competence, Bishop Arkfeld quickly gave him many hats to wear. As well as Director of Education, he was a teacher, Secretary of the Mission Land Trust for the restoration of Property Titles, Chaplain to the government High School at Brandi where Sir Michael Somare (future PNG prime minister) was doing his first year as a teacher, and chaplain to the European section of the local Hospital. In 1960 Peter also became chaplain (with the rank of Captain) to the Australian Army Engineers, the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and the 2nd Pacific Island Regiment at Moem Barracks, Wewak.
In 1967 Peter became a member of the National Catholic Education Board representing the Dioceses of Wewak, Aitape, Vanimo and Daru. He played an active part on the Board in winning the right for all mission schools to exist as long as they had qualified teachers. In 1980 Peter returned to Australia as the Rector of the seminary in West Essendon, Victoria.
In 1982 he was elected AUS Provincial Superior. In 1987 he oversaw the construction of a new seminary in Box Hill, Melbourne. It was called “Dorish Maru College” in memory of the missionaries who lost their lives in PNG during the Second World War. After completing two terms as provincial he volunteered for the Mission of Kiribati for three years where he worked at the Kiribati Pastoral Institute. After his return to Australia in 1990 he continued to be active in pastoral duties from North Queensland to Tasmania.
He semi-retired to the Marsfield community in Sydney. Over the past two years, Peter suffered a series of health issues requiring various stays in hospital. He died peacefully and will be remembered with love and gratitude.
May he rest now in peace.
- 1890
Rev Mgr John Fitzpatrick Yass, Penrith, NSW, Melbourne
- 1904
Rev John Baptist Coue SM Emmaville, Gladstone, Qld, etc
- 1904
Rev Peter B Murphy Pymble, Parramatta, etc, NSW
- 1912
Rev Stephen H McDonough Warwick, Mt. Morgan, Charters Towers, Bowen, Cooktown, Clermont, Rockhampton, Barcaldine, Emerald, Qld
- 1949
Rev Thomas Campbell CSsR Redemptorist Fathers and Diocese of Townsville, Queensland
- 1956
Rev Alosius Jeffcott SM Sydney, Rockhampton, Qld
- 1958
Rev Mgr Thomas Percival Davis Kingswood, etc, SA
- 1967
Rev Thomas Raymond Purtell Newcastle, etc, NSW
- 1984
Rev Paul Raymond Keyte SDB Bellevue, Greenmount, Perth, WA
- 1989
Rev Luigi Francesco Tosi Beecroft, Stanmore, Merrylands, Kensington, NSW
- 1990
Rev Mgr Robert W Lyons Maryborough, Qld
- 1993
Rev George Maltby Melbourne dioc
- 1994
Rev Laurence Martin Corridon Forest Lodge, Padstow, etc, NSW
- 2000
Rev Giles Ferriggi OFM Adelaide, etc
- 2006
Rev William Behm Toowoomba dioc, Qld
- 2007
Rev Sebastian Zingali SDB