Rev Donald Hughes OMI
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Born 23/08/1932;
Ordained 15/09/1957.
Oblates - Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Donald Oswin Hughes was born of a well-known Fremantle family and was educated there. Seeking to answer God's call, he first went to St Charles diocesan seminary in Perth before going to the Oblate novitiate in Sorrento, Victoria. As was necessary in those years before the opening of an Oblate seminary, he went to Co Kilkenny in Ireland to complete his studies and was ordained there. After a brief pastoral experience in Liverpool, Don was appointed to Australia.
Over the years he accepted many and varied appointments with great faith and enthusiasm: parishes, mission preaching, serving in VIC, NSW, NZ and WA. In 1961 he joined the staff of Iona College, which the Oblates had opened in bayside Brisbane in 1958. As well as teaching the boys, he helped to develop the finances and supervised a building program and, with great enthusiasm led the parents in working-bees and fund-raising in the days before much government funding and growing enrolments. He became well-known in the diocese for supplies and regular help with parish appeals for the missions.
In 1966 he was sent to WA to be the founding Principal of Mazenod College in Lesmurdie and under his leadership developed it as a fine Day and Boarding College. His next appointment was to the Oblate seminary in Victoria, first as Novice Master, then as Rector, next to Adelaide as PP of Tea Tree Gully followed by returning to his own beloved Fremantle as PP of St Patrick's, then to Lesmurdie. His life achieved full circle when he was asked to return to St Charles Seminary in Perth - he had always retained a great affection and friendship for the Archdiocese and its priests and was very much at home there helping with formation of new priests. He spent his last years back at Lesmurdie and enjoyed the company of students and staff.
Clearly Don was a generous, pastoral and faithful priest to the end and greatly loved and admired by his family, those he had ministered to and by his brother Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His requiem and burial took place in St Patrick's led by his seminary contemporary Archbishop Barry Hickey, with Bishops Sproxton and Bianchini present as well as many priests, religious and friends.
May he rest in peace.