Funeral Mass for Monsignor Bernard O’Regan

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint John the Baptist Church, Clifton Hill,
on Wednesday 28th September 2005 at 10.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Together with his sister, Mary, his sister-in-law, Margaret, his nephews and nieces, bishops and priests from Melbourne and the Military Vicariate, and so many friends, we come to bid farewell to Monsignor Bernard O’Regan and to pray for the repose of his soul.

We will remember him as a generous priest who loved people and had confidence in his Lord.

Overnight, last Tuesday, in the eightieth year of his age and the fifty-fifth year of his priesthood at the Mercy Hospital, after some weeks of suffering, Bernie was called home to his true home.

We who remain behind remember him with devotion and respect, thank God for his priesthood and pray for his eternal repose, while asking comfort and strength for his loved ones.

As we remember our human frailty, let us ask the Lord for pardon, light and strength.

Homily

“We know that when the tent we live in on earth is folded up there is a house built by God for us, an everlasting home, not made by human hands, in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This reference is particularly appropriate for one who was the son of a builder giving a clear indication of the God for whom Bernie O’Regan lived as a student, young man, seminarian, priest, military chaplain, pastor and lover of priests.

The memories we have of Bernie are of one who walked with us and was highly regarded in his abilities and achievements.

Bernie had been born as the third child of David O’Regan and Agnes Sloane on 6 th May 1926. Bernie and his brothers; Frank, Kevin and John were keen sportsmen, while his sister Mary suggests that they were not alone in their love of sport or sharing in football.

In the years at home life was simple and well ordered. Mary loved to tease Bernie. They were all altar servers. The family Rosary was said every night and it is alleged that Davey O’Regan’s trimmings were longer than his Rosary.

It was in this context that Bernie, not surprisingly, had the Memorarae of Saint Bernard as his favourite prayer and it was on his death bed that Mary said it to him again.

He did primary education at Saint Francis Xavier, Box Hill, and then with the Marist Brothers at Saint John’s, Hawthorn, and Saint Patrick’s College, Sale. He went to work as a telegraph boy in Sale for some months before he felt the call to the priesthood, as had done his elder brother Frank two years earlier. He returned to school and finished Leaving and Latin before he went to the Seminary.

Bernie was most popular at Werribee and a very good sportsman. In one celebrated game he sought to trip the former Bishop of Maitland and an interesting verbal exchange followed. Bernie was bright and optimistic, loved by his colleagues.

As he approached Ordination the family was stricken because Agnes his mother suffered a stroke a month before Bernie was due to be ordained. A month later on visiting his mother in Mena House Nursing Home she had another attack and Bernie’s first anointing was in fact conferred to his mother, who died in May 1952.

He saw service as an Assistant in the Cathedral, in Geelong for nearly six years, and in Gardenvale, before he was nominated as an Air Force Chaplain on 1 st February 1958, doing full-time duty until 3 rd February 1967. During those years he served at Wagga Wagga, Laverton, Butterworth, Richmond, and in Vietnam in 1965-66. He was highly respected and admired by all ranks in the R.A.A.F. He had a robust style of leadership and made many lifetime friends during his R.A.A.F. ministry.

Immediately afterwards he went to Mentone as Administrator, although he was already Principal Air Chaplain from 1966. In various capacities, active and part-time, he retained this post until 1983. He was honoured by the Holy Father as a Domestic Prelate in December 1967 and at the beginning of 1968 he became Parish Priest of East Melbourne.

However, once again the Military called, and on 31 st January 1970 he began a further stint of full-time duty as Secretary to the Board of Chaplains RAAF, working in Chancery House, 485 Bourke Street, Melbourne, and in 1972 he was awarded the O.B.E.

At the end of this full-time duty on 24 th June 1975 he was Parish Priest of Croydon and came to his final pastorate at Balaclava on 22 nd January 1977 where he remained until his retirement to George Maher House in February 1999.

Bernie was definitely a people person. He was very generous and caring. When travelling overseas he would always call in at Perth to see Kevin and his wife, Margaret. He was loyal to the Church, very gifted and his attitude to people was such that he never judged them and always looked on the bright side.

His own sporting gifts were echoed in his strong allegiance to Richmond. He would go into the change rooms, bless players, always be with them and indoctrinate his nephews and nieces into a similar allegiance.

On 1 st March 1971 he was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the racing fraternity by Cardinal Knox. The annual racing Mass, whether at East Melbourne, or later at Saint Francis’, was a distinct spiritual item on the spring racing calendar.

Although in his later years his health declined, when he moved to George Maher House he was always well involved in supporting other priests and relating to them. He was friendly and encouraging and the hope and joy that he displayed showed how in fact he lived in the hope of resurrection.

May his priestly soul, now reunited with his brothers and his parents, rest in eternal peace. We who have known him and loved him in life will undertake a commitment to pray for him and honour him in death. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.