Funeral Mass of Father William Michael Butler

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at All Hallows’ Church, Balwyn,
on Tuesday, 5th October, 2004, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, with esteem and with the love of his nephews and nieces from near and far, and his brother priests, we come to bid farewell to the constant and faith-filled soul of William Michael Butler.

After forty years as a Christian Brother and thirty-five years as a priest of the Archdiocese, he has gone to his eternal home. We, who remember his directness, honesty and humble use of his gifts, come to pray for the repose of his soul as we celebrate this Mass of Christian Burial.

So that we may continue our pilgrimage, let us call to mind our sins.

Homily

“If anyone believes in me, even though he dies, he will live.” ( John 11:23 )

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Bill Butler was known throughout the ninety-four years of his life as a man of faith and constancy. Today, as we come to bid him farewell, we remember his constant hope in God, whilst bearing in mind his long times of illness at Justin Villa, with the words of Saint Paul to the Romans, “These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us.” Truly nothing came between Bill and “the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus.” ( Romans 8:39 )

William Michael Butler was born on 8 th September, 1910, and was baptised and later ordained to the priesthood in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The family lived near the Merri Creek in North Fitzroy and a younger brother drowned in that same creek. This had a lifelong effect on Bill.

Sister Kath Williams recalls: On our occasional drives we passed Merri Creek. Father Bill shared about the time his little brother drowned there. Each time he shared the story it was always new, as if somehow he was remembering and reliving it all again. It did him good to share about that and no questions were asked.

At the tender age of fifteen he entered the postulancy of the Christian Brothers, where he was to live religious life, and work for two days short of forty years. After profession in December 1927, he was posted to Townsville (1928), Ipswich (1935), Lewisham (1936), St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, (1937), the Technical School at Rozelle (1939), before returning to Melbourne in 1941.

He was known as Curly by Brothers and students, with typical Australian humour, because he was bald.

He did later tell Bishop O’Connell how primitive it was in Townsville when he was there, especially teaching in the heat and wearing the big black habits. Bishop Joe always thinks of him when cyclones are imminent because in Townsville a red flag would be put up at the Post Office to announce the cyclones approaching.

Seven years were spent teaching at Saint Joseph’s Technical School in South Melbourne, followed by four years at Saint Joseph’s, Abbotsford, and a return to South Melbourne for a further four years. In 1956 he became Principal of Saint Mary’s, West Melbourne, and was a loyal friend and co-operative Principal with priests in charge of the parishes in which he worked. He was also a great support with Father John Brosnan in the prison ministry. Three years later he went to Moonee Ponds as Principal of Saint Monica’s and back to Abbotsford in mid-year, before going to Geelong in the Technical School in 1960, and 1964 in Yarraville and back to Highton.

He enjoyed remembering and telling about the words of Archbishop Mannix, who told Father Bill to go on to the priesthood with faith. He then added, “You will live to be a great age and be a curiosity.”

Quite soon after he was dispensed from vows in September, 1965, he went to All Hallows College, Dublin, where he was known as an industrious and capable student and was ordained to the priesthood by the then Archbishop James Knox on 31 st May, 1969.

The readiness with which he settled into studies and was accepted at All Hallows is indicative of his ability to relate to people.

Members of the Butler family did not see much of him in his earlier years as a Brother. However, when he had returned to Melbourne and he was ordained they found him a tower of strength and sound advice. He was very serious, but also fun loving, great in company, enjoyed conversation and loved meeting people. The family respected and loved him as a wonderful character and a strong influence.

It may have been that his friendship with Father Jack Saul (himself a former Brother) influenced his decision to become a priest.

As a priest he gave generous service in West St Kilda (1969) and Daylesford (1972), before becoming parish priest of Mansfield from August 1975 until April 1978. This was followed by two shorter periods at North Balwyn and Kyneton before he became Chaplain to Saint Catherine’s Home, Balwyn, in 1980 until 1992.

He spoke with love for his ministry with the elderly at Saint Catherine’s. When people expressed gratitude for the care given to a relative, in a gruff fashion (perhaps a mixture of pride and embarrassment), Father Bill would brush it off and say, “I don’t remember that – it’s all exaggerated”, whilst quietly delighting in the fact that he had been so well remembered.

Always his constancy, firmness and reliability were qualities which are remembered and these he brought with faith to his exercise of priesthood.

As a priest at Saint Catherine’s and Justin Villa he suffered much from increasing old age and yet he did so courageously. Despite his forthright, constant views, he was surprisingly forward thinking. It is an indication of the esteem in which he was held by the family that his nephew Michael Fallon from Little River was with him on the morning he died.

After twelve years he ceased to be Chaplain at Saint Catherine’s Home, Balwyn, and retired to Justin Villa. He was an extremely generous friend to the Sisters at Justin Villa. His last years were times of pain and increasing old age and yet he remained friendly and optimistic.

The Sisters looked after Father Bill for ten years. Whenever they went into his ordered and spotless room at Justin Villa, there was one thing that they were certain to receive – a warm welcome, an offer to sit down and to have a chat. Father Bill was always ready to talk about the state of the world, the church, and he had his definite opinions on each one.

If interest was expressed in one of his new books, without fail, Father Bill would struggle to get up from the large, brown armchair, stand, walk totteringly over to the particular book mentioned and hand it over with a croaky, “I don’t need it back.” He would then talk about the book and all its positives and negatives, whilst delighting in being able to give away something of his that he knew would be enjoyed.

Every week Sister Kathryn Williams would take him to BiLo to get his weekly groceries. It was his afternoon out. He would spend the morning preparing his list, beautifully written in his easy to read script. It was quite a task to get him into the car and drive (very slowly) to the shop. He would then walk around the store with Sister Kath, trailing behind her carrying the little red basket. They would go from aisle to aisle looking for the bargain. He would compare prices with the last time and tell Sister Kath in a loud voice about how much the prices had accelerated since they were last there, occasionally causing her to shrink when she noticed others watching and smiling. They would then go to the counter and greet and chat to the checkout girls. When they got home there was always a chocolate treat for the staff and sisters.

He was a great lover of football, but more particularly rugby because he was in Queensland for so long, and used to annoy the residents at Justin Villa about the footy.

I know that the priests and sisters and community at Justin Villa are richer for his presence and poorer for his passing.

Melbourne has lost one of its oldest priests, who gave himself generously and unstintingly to the service of the Master in two major vocations. His deeds in teaching young men, and as a priest of God, and his prayers will sustain the members of his family, the community at Justin Villa and his priest friends, as we pray for the repose of his generous soul.

May he rest in peace!

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.