Diocese_Of_Sandhurst_YearInReview_2021

54 IN MEMORY Born and baptised John Frederick Purcell, Fr Paul was known to many by his religious name, and to his family as Jack. Fr Paul passed away at the age of 96 in the 41st year of his priesthood, following 30 years of service as a Dominican brother, which included 25 years as Captain of a mission ship in the Solomon Islands. He was awarded an MBE for his service to the people of the Solomons. He served as Parish Priest in parishes in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane before joining the Diocese of Sandhurst just before Christmas in 2000. Fellow priest, Fr Rom Hayes, recounts Fr Paul’s arrival at Wodonga parish; “He said five Masses that first weekend. In the 20 years that I’ve known him, he’s never said ‘no’ to anything.” Fr Paul ‘retired’ to St Kilian’s Parish in Bendigo in 2012, where he continued to celebrate daily Mass until very recently. “A priest never really retires,” he would often say. With Fr Junray Rayna, Administrator of St Kilian’s, Fr Paul concelebrated dailyMass, whichwas livestreamed from the St Kilian’s Presbytery Chapel. Fr Paul was a great believer that the Church needed to embrace technology and saw the need to do whatever possible to provide opportunities for the Catholic community to pray together at virtual Mass during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Born and raised in Yarraville, Fr Paul was an avid Footscray/Bulldogs supporter. He completed an apprenticeship in engineering and boilermaking before joining the Dominicans in 1949. His engineering skills were put to great use when he was tasked with rebuilding a 72 ft ketch, the Salve Regina, which was to become the mission ship he skippered to serve the people of the Solomon Islands. Fr Paul was known for his quiet self-deprecating humour, dry wit, and gentle demeanour. An amazing cook, he was known for his love of hospitality and his famous celebratory toast “to astonishing good health!” Fr Paul lived an enriched, adventurous and rewarding life in the service of others. In doing so, he inspired and enriched the lives of so many. He will be dearly missed. The Funeral Mass for Fr Paul was celebrated at St Kilian’s Church on Friday 3, September 2021. “Jack had a presence in a room. He loved to sit back and take in everything around him. He was a great listener and always saw the good in others. He had a wonderful sense of humour and loved to laugh.” Clare O’Brien, Niece Fr Paul Purcell 23 March 1927 – 29 August 2021 “He was a priest who was very faithful to his daily prayers. He had only one app on his iPad, that was the Universalis.” Fr Junray Rayna