Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 51 IN MEMORY Rev. Fr John Naughton served the Diocese of Sandhurst as a priest for over fifty years. He was known by his fellow priests as the ‘Master of Hospitality’ and those who knew him at Mount Alvernia Hospital, where he was chaplain for many years, and at Ave Maria Hostel, where he celebrated Mass and lived in his latter years, as the ‘gentle priest’. Shepparton born and raised, Fr John Naughton was educated at St Colman’s College, Shepparton and Assumption College Kilmore. After national service, with the support of the late Bishop Bernard Stewart, he spent time brushing up on Latin at Stanislaus College in Bathurst, before entering Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. Fr Naughton was ordained in 1965, in time to celebrate the marriages of his two younger brothers, and only two years later, the funeral Mass of his father. His brother Peter Naughton, said at Fr Naughton’s Funeral Mass that his brother’s Ordination changed the lives of their entire family, moving them all to a deeper understanding of their faith. Fr Naughton served as a priest at St Kilian’s Bendigo, Yarrawonga, Tatura, Sacred Heart Cathedral and Golden Square. He was chaplain at Mount Alvernia Hospital for twenty years. After he retired from formal appointments in 2009, he continued to celebrate Mass for residents of Ave Maria Hostel, where he eventually became a resident. Fr John diligently did work that others seemingly did not want to do; photographing and digitising marriage, baptism and confirmation registers for example to update archdiocesan archives in Kew. He worked quietly doing work that was not so exciting but was important work and needed to be done. Over the years, Fr Naughton’s ministry was interrupted by ill health, no doubt making him even more compassionate towards those he was chaplain to in hospitals and aged care. Fr Naughton went to God on 2 September 2020. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at his ‘home’ parish, St Brendan’s Shepparton, by Bishop Shane Mackinlay and his eulogy was given by childhood family friend, Monsignor Frank Marriott. Fr John Naughton 27 August 1934 ~ 2 September 2020 Fr John Naughton concelebrating Mass with the late Bishop Joe Grech.
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