WEEP NOT FOR PRIESTS WHO HAVE DIED, NOR MOURN OVER THEM, FOR CHRIST DIED FOR THEM AND ROSE TO GLORY.
- 2013
Rev Adrian Lyons SJ
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Born 28/08/1942; Ordained 07/12/1974 - Jesuit Fathers.
Adrian who died of cancer at the age of 70, was a Jesuit for 52 years and a priest for over 38. Born in Melbourne and educated by the Jesuits, he entered the Society of Jesus at Loyola, Watsonia. His training included an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and two years teaching in Adelaide. During Theology he obtained a Master of Arts degree at Melbourne University.
Adrian was many things: a university chaplain, adult faith educator, teacher, writer, founding editor of Eureka Street (then a print journal covering religious, political and cultural affairs), superior, builder, province administrator, rural parish priest, director of an international Jesuit formation program. Gentle, sympathetic and probing, he proved to be an ideal mentor to tertiary students in Adelaide. He cultivated long-lasting friendships, and undertook writing assignments for Jesuit Refugee Service and Uniya, a Jesuit social justice institute. His book Imagine Believing (2003) was the outcome of his long-term grappling with questions of belief and unbelief.
Terminal illness spurred him on to publish two books that were launched in Melbourne shortly before his death: The First Thing To Do Is Live: Essays Sacred and Secular, and Sunday Soundings: Sermons from a Jesuit's ministry. They testify to his eloquence, freshness of approach, balance, sensitivity and perceptiveness. His sermons are alert to the times and his listeners, who cherished them. A great encourager of others, he remained remarkably self-possessed as he approached death. His faith, honesty and serenity were inspiring.
May he rest now in peace.
- 2012
Rev Anthony Redden Born 14/06/1947; Diocese of Port Pirie.
- 2010
Rev Walter Bernard (Bernie) Dwyer Born 23/08/1907; Ordained 01/03/1958; Narrogin, Albany, Bunbury, Gnowangerup-Tambellup,Kojonup, Bridgetown, Lake Grace, Mandurah,Erskine, WA.
- 2020
Rev Bernard Melville
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Born: 12/03/1929.
Ordained: 24/07/1953.
Diocese of Armidale.
Bernard was born in Tenterfield to parents Mary (McDonagh) and Charles Melville and is survived by his sisters Patricia and Margaret and brother-in-law Robert Blomfield. He received schooling in Katoomba (Primary) and Tamworth (Christian Brothers College).
In 1947 Bernard began studies for the priesthood at St Columba's College, Springwood and St Patrick's College Manly. In the seminary he was nicknamed “Prof” (Professor) due to his excelling in academic studies, a beginning of his lifetime reading in both religious and wider fields. The serious studies he pursued led to his later renown for preaching homilies of high quality.
Bernard was ordained priest by Bishop E J Doody on 22 July 1953 at Sts Mary and Joseph's Cathedral, Armidale. He served as an assistant priest, first in Quirindi and later in Armidale. He was then appointed administrator of the parish of Moree. He later became Parish Priest of Bingara, and then of Manilla, where he served from 1975 until retirement in 2017, a stint of some 42 years, crowning his 64 years as an active priest.
Bernie was renowned for his involvement in many aspects of towns in which he lived, community service which led to him being awarded the Order of Australia medal in 1999.
Bernie was willing to become involved in unpopular issues, such as concern for the Aboriginal poverty-stricken communities on the edges of towns in the 1960s. He became involved in Aboriginal advancement in Moree, which led him to be labelled by some as “the nigger priest”. Bernie said he would gladly carry that slur as a badge of honour. When Charlie Perkins led the 1965 Freedom Ride of Sydney University students into Moree, Bernie met with Charlie and they became good friends.
May he rest in peace.
- 2011
Rev Ian Dillon SJ Born 04/02/1926; Ordained 08/01/1958.
- 2016
Rev John Butcher Born 03/02/1937; Ordained 29/06/1961
Diocese of Cairns
- 1908
Rev Timothy Murphy Adelaide, Mt. Gambier etc, SA; Bendigo, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Vic
- 1912
Rev Charles O'Connell SJ Sydney; Hawthorn, Vic, etc
- 1928
Bishop Michael O'Farrell CM Bathurst NSW
- 1930
Rev Martin McNamara Adelaide dioc
- 1933
Rev James Bede Kearney Sydney dioc
- 1936
Rev Gerard Chester CP Marrickville, NSW; Glen Osmond, SA
- 1948
Rev James Smith Sydney dioc
- 1950
Rev Peter Costelloe Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn
- 1979
Rev Wolodymar Krayewsky CSsR Mayfield, NSW, etc
- 1984
Rev John Edward Grady Narraweena, Penrith, etc, NSW
- 1990
Rev Joseph Robert Weaver 18 parishes in Sydney dioc, including Hoxton Park, Austral, Parramatta, Leura
- 1998
Rev Peter Moore Wollongong dioc, NSW
- 2005
Rev Alexander Thomas Fitzpatrick OP Melbourne; Port Pirie, SA, diocs
- 2006
Rev Luke Fay CSsR Leonora, North Perth WA
- 2006
Rev Reginald Hynes Moora, Wongan Hills, Trayning, Wyalkatchem, Boulder, Beverley, WA
- 2006
Rev Donal O'Sullivan MSC Sydney, etc