Funeral Mass for Father Gerard O’Callaghan

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart at
Our Lady Of Victories’ Basilica, Camberwell,
on Thursday, 2nd December, 2004, at 10.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the 88 th year of his age and the 63 rd year of his priesthood Father Gerard Joseph O’Callaghan returned to his true home last Saturday afternoon.

In a way it is difficult to imagine the Archdiocese of Melbourne without his prominent presence and his strong command of language. Bishops, priests and people are gathered today to bid him farewell, united with his sister, Ursula, and brother-in-law, Ted, and his nieces and nephews, Margaret, Helen, Frank, John, Bernie and their families. He was a fine pastor, a zealous visitor of his people, a competent linguist and one who for all his years was a priest of God for God’s holy people.

Here at Our Lady of Victories where he attended primary school and together with the people of Ferntree Gully, Carlton, North Melbourne and North Fitzroy, where he was Assistant, and of the parishes of Wonthaggi, Lilydale, East Ivanhoe and Black Rock where he was pastor, and his friends at Villa Madonna where his priestly goodness continued, we bid him farewell as we pray for the repose of his soul.

“I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known.” ( John 17:24-26)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we are honoured to bid farewell to a dedicated pastor who knew his people and worked constantly for the extension of the kingdom of God.

Gerard O’Callaghan was born at West Brunswick on 7 th July, 1917, and after baptism and early education in Saint Joseph’s Parish, the family moved to Our Lady of Victories’, Camberwell. He then studied at Saint Colman’s, C.B.C. Victoria Parade and Saint Kevin’s, Toorak, before going to Corpus Christi College in March, 1935.

At Werribee he was an able student, a fine linguist and his skills were honed in his ministry to the Italian migrant communities in his parishes. He loved to speak Italian and practised that language on the Italian market gardeners at Werribee while he was at Corpus Christi. After Ferntree Gully he was Assistant at Carlton and he could also speak fluently in a number of Italian dialects used in that suburb. In the restaurants staffed or frequented by Italians of those times there was great esteem for the wonders he did between 1944 and 1951.

Then on to North Fitzroy. Soon after he left Carlton, Father Tobia Borriero was appointed and stayed for ten to fifteen years in Melbourne. Father Tobi had been a missionary in Latin America and could tell hair-raising stories, being a pious man, but humble and unassuming in ways, strong in faith and with an experienced pastoral approach. Soon after his arrival in Melbourne Father Gerard was on the doorstep and a solid, enduring friendship was established.

As late as 1976 he wrote to the Archbishop giving one of the more original reasons for wanting to travel overseas. “I request permission to be absent from my parish for a period of four months … I feel that I have deprived overseas folk of my cultural contribution for far too long.” He then went on to say that he would visit Father Borriero in San Remo and indicated his lack of enthusiasm about Father Borriero’s wanting to drive him all over the Veneto and Friuli in his Cariolina Fiat 500. “He cannot see a yard in front of him.” For Father Gerard, Father Borriero satisfied his yearning to gain in depth experience of Italian cultural life.

Father Gerard set high standards for himself and others. He could hold his own in discussions on most issues – Church or secular. He disapproved of those who did not maintain what he understood as the level which no gentleman should pass. He spoke well and fluently and was attentive to right pronunciation. How words were pronounced, how sentences came together in harmonious relationship, mattered greatly to him. He was sure of the position he took and would strongly defend it.

Soon after 6 th October, 1959, when he was parish priest of Wonthaggi, a Decree arrived from Rome indicating that Wonthaggi and the neighbouring parishes had been transferred to Sale with the priests who were in them. A successful appeal was mounted and he returned to be parish priest of Lilydale in June 1961. East Ivanhoe followed ten years later in 1971. The family remember that he made a comfortable home of each of his presbyteries, leaving each dwelling well provided and maintained, enjoying the good things of life, but all would be left behind when the call came to move.

His sister and brother-in-law, his nieces and nephews, remember gratefully that he baptised, married and buried the family for sixty-two years. His handsome and dignified appearance and great personal presence drew him to be devoted to his family and to go to Ursula’s place for the Sunday night family roast for which he br\ought usually some Italian wine.

He had a wonderful capacity to make friends. He loved travel. His nephew, Bernie, and Margaret, have fond memories of meeting him in Europe, travelling with him and being entertained by his unique take on the monuments of western civilisation. Father Gerard was always himself wherever he went. On one occasion in Rome I was attending a meeting and staying in the Casa Internazionale del Clero when Father Gerard arrived in the grey Panama hat demanding to see Padre Hart. He then proceeded to take me out onto the piazza for coffee and arrange a meeting for a meal. His comments on Italian society showed how he loved people and was devoted to them for the rest of his life.

First and foremost, Father Gerry was a priest of God. He loved the truth and was never afraid to speak it. He had a similar love of the afternoon nap. His making and keeping friends like Brossie and Tric and others endeared us to him. It may even be said that he was a great commentator at liturgical ceremonies.

Black Rock followed East Ivanhoe until he was appointed Pastor Emeritus on 2nd February, 1992. Prior to this he had written on the advice of Monsignor Deakin, the Vicar General, “I sought and obtained an interview with the Directors at Villa Madonna at Wantirna. Competition was not very keen since I was the only applicant and they have indicated that they would be pleased to have me on the staff at Villa Madonna.” He went on to say, “I would like to think that I might be of some use in my declining years. My own eye distress has over the years has inclined me towards the visually handicapped.”

His family remembers his wit and wonderful expressions. For example, “As old as Methuselah’s duck.” When asked how he was after a mild stroke, he delighted in answering, “Lingering like an unloved guest.” Last Tuesday week he was asked by a nurse, ‘how are you Father?’ to which he responded, “Handsome as ever.”

Gerard O’Callaghan embraced and loved the truth, proclaimed it articulately and brought the sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments to God’s people, for whom he was a devoted, constant and gifted pastor. Melbourne is poorer by his passing, but richer by his memory. May he rest in the peace of the God whom he served so faithfully for so long.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.