LORD, MAY THEY SHINE FOREVER LIKE BRIGHT STARS, FOR ON EARTH THEY ENLIGHTENED OUR MINDS WITH TRUTH.
- 2012
Rev Stan Griffith Date of Birth 10/11/1941 Date of Ordination 05/08/1971; Archdiocese of Brisbane
- 2013
Rev Stanislaus Campbell
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Born 09/07/1925; Ordained 30/11/1950 - Diocese of Armidale
Stanislaus John Campbell was born at Gunnedah, the third of four sons of Michael John Campbell and Elsie Margaret Gallen. St Joseph's Church was the focal point of his upbringing – he was baptised, received his First Eucharist and was confirmed in the historic church, with his ordination by Bishop Doody on November 30, 1950, celebrated by family and friends.
The young Stan Campbell attended St Xavier's Primary School and St Mary's College, in Gunnedah, before completing his education at St Joseph's College, Hunter's Hill.
Realising at a young age that he wanted to be a priest, Stan began his study for the priesthood at St Columba's College, in Springwood, followed by a number of years at the seminary in Manly.
Stan ministered in the parishes of Tamworth, Boggabri, Inverell, Werris Creek, Narrabri, Walgett, Glen Innes, Guyra, Dungowan and Wee Waa and in Quirindi for 27 years, where he was loved and well known for his careful administration of the parish's finances.
Stan loved to travel and visited several overseas destinations, often bringing back souvenirs for his nieces and nephews, all of whom were devoted to him. He took a keen interest in the next generation as they arrived and the family was thrilled that he was able to perform many baptisms and weddings.
Stan's fellow seminarian, Fr Mick Malone, also spoke at the funeral, describing his friend as a priest with a heart of gold'. Fr John Walsh and Fr Eric Burton from Fr Stan's class also attended the service and placed symbols of faith from Fr Stan's life on the casket.
Stan spent the last few years of his life at Nazareth House, Tamworth, where he often celebrated Mass for residents. He also assisted other priests in the diocese as needed.
After years of frail health, he died peacefully and now rests with God.
- 2017
Rev William Holmes
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Born 16/01/1932;
Ordained 22/01/1984
Diocese of Bunbury
William Holmes, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, friend and priest died bravely after almost five years residency at Bethanie Aged High Care, Bunbury, WA.
The only child of Melbourne working class parents, William and his mother grieved through the untimely death of William's father in 1943.Williams's mother laboured long hours to continue funding William's private school education, after which he became a teacher – working in Melbourne, Vic; London, UK and Perth, WA.
Aged 32 years, William arrived in Perth. He met and married Marjorie and their romance flourished during 53 challenging years.
Influenced by his devout grandmother, William a practising Anglican, had long felt God's call to the Anglican priesthood. Accepted for possible ordination by Adelaide's Anglican Bishop, William studied three years at theological college and was ordained deacon and then priest by the Bishop, serving in the parishes of Mt Gambier, SA; Albany and Kojonup, WA and Latrobe, Tasmania.
William came to believe that Catholicism, despite weaknesses, brought people nearer to God and so he resigned from the Anglican Priesthood and with Marjorie and their son, joined the Catholic Church and moved back to Melbourne. Acknowledgement must be given to Bishop Myles McKeon who initiated William's catholic Ordination.
Now unemployed, William volunteered at a Catholic Hospital and gained a theological degree from The University of Melbourne. Thankfully, Marjorie's work could support the family during this time.
William's situation became known to Bishop Peter Quinn of Bunbury and with the agreement of his priests and the Australian Catholic Bishops, Bishop Quinn applied to the Vatican for approval to ordain William. Imagine William's and Marjorie's joy when after five years William was informed by Bishop Quinn that Papal approval had been received. William was ordained Catholic priest for Bunbury and loved serving in in the parishes of Bunbury, Pemberton, Northcliffe, Manjimup, Margaret River and Augusta. Working at the Marriage Tribunal became another responsibility.
Retiring to Bunbury in 2006, William offered supply ministry until increasing disability forced him to stop.
William's many interests included English Literature, Classical Music, Australian Politics, history, painting and going to the cinema. While congenital feet problems precluded active sport, William engaged in walking and watching cricket and football.
May he now rest in peace, watching over his beloved wife, Marjorie and the family he so dearly loved.
- 1857
Rev Nicholas Francis Coffey OFM Melbourne; Bathurst, NSW
- 1857
Rev Michael Connaughton Bathurst dioc, NSW
- 1880
Rev John Paul Roche OSB Campbelltown, Binalong, etc, NSW
- 1891
Rev Andrew Walsh Boorowa, etc, NSW
- 1892
Bishop Henry Verjus MSC Sydney
- 1903
Rev John Sherlock CP Goulburn, Sydney, NSW, etc
- 1917
Rev John Chrysostom Cleary CSsR Waratah, NSW, etc
- 1918
Rev Casper Smiers MHM Narrabri, Wilcannia, Emmaville, NSW
- 1929
Rev Samuel Hillereau SM Hunters Hill, NSW
- 1944
Rev James Patrick O'Doherty OP Adelaide, etc
- 1952
Rev Joseph Carroll Hay, NSW, etc
- 1953
Rev James O'Dea Bathurst dioc, NSW
- 1954
Rev Phillip Joseph Murphy OFM Melbourne, etc
- 1955
Rev Charles Daly Tannymorel, etc, Qld
- 1957
Rev Richard Murphy SJ Sydney, etc
- 1959
Rev John Joseph Coady Merewether, etc, NSW; Launceston, Tas
- 1965
Rev James Roche SM Sydney, etc
- 1969
Rev Mgr Francis Carson Gunning, etc, NSW
- 1976
Rev Royston Francis Brown Rockhampton dioc, Qld
- 1977
Bishop Hugh Edward Ryan Bendigo, Vic; Townsville, Qld - Second Bishop of Townsville 1938 -1967
- 1979
Rev Bede Bloxham OFM Midland, WA; Campbelltown, NSW; Melbourne, etc
- 1980
Rev Nikodemus Serzants Landsborough, Birregurra, etc, Vic
- 1981
Rev Brian McBride Sydney, etc
- 1986
Rev Edward Toohey CP Marrickville, Long Bay, Goulburn, Parramatta, Concord, NSW, etc
- 1991
Rev George Maher West Heidelberg, Brighton, etc, Vic
- 1994
Rev Peter Vincent OFM Sydney, etc
- 2001
Rev Theo Robinson OSB
- 2005
Rev Wesley Heading Peterborough, Renmark, Port Pirie, Cummins, Minnipa, Whyalla, Snowtown, SA
- 2021
Most Rev William J Wright DD
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Born in Washington DC USA 26/10/1952.
Ordained Priest for Sydney 20/08/1977.
Appointed Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle 04/04/2011.
Installed Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle 15/06/2011.
Bill, the third and youngest child of Jack and Nan Wright (both deceased) is survived by his sister, Patricia and brother, Robert. He was born in Washington DC, where his father, an economist with the Australian Central Bank (Commonwealth, later Reserve, Bank) was seconded to the International Monetary Fund.
The family returned to Australia when young Bill was only a baby. He was educated by the Sisters of Mercy at Pymble and by the Jesuits at St Aloysius' College, Milsons Point, with two years at Wimbledon College, another Jesuit school, when the family was in England.
Bill was educated for priesthood at St Columba's College, Springwood (1971?73) and St Patrick's College, Manly (1974?77) and was ordained to the diaconate in October 1976 and to the priesthood on 20 August 1977 at St Mary's Cathedral. After ordination, he gained a BA(Hons), largely in History, at Sydney University.
Bill served the parishes of Stanmore, Mount Druitt, Fairfield, Enmore, Dulwich Hill, Bonnyrigg, Moree, Sutherland and Liverpool. In addition, Bill was Vice-Rector of St Patrick's College, Manly (1985-1991) and Assistant Secretary to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, in Canberra, in 1995.
Bill was ordained eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle by the former Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, on June 15 2011 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.
Since his ordination as bishop, he served as the Co-Chair of the National Committee for Professional Standards and was a member of the Truth Justice and Healing Council throughout its existence (2013-18). Bill was a member of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry and the Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Relations and most recently was a member of the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation Laity and Ministry and the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.
May he rest in peace.