Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gleeson-john-philip-berchmans-10311

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Gleeson, Philip

Philosopher, province bursar, administrator; born Glebe, Sydney, NSW, 4 April 1910; died Beckenham, London, UK, 24 February 1969, aged 58.

Philip Gleeson was educated at Xavier College, Kew, where in his final year he was captain of the school and captain of football and cricket, and a real leader among his peers. He entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 2 April 1930, and during that time showed the qualities that characterised him: unusual application and energy in doing whatever he had to do, an easy acceptance of responsibility, a certain toughness and austerity in his spiritual life, constancy and regularity in praying, and great equanimity.

After one year of his juniorate at Greenwich, he began his second year of juniorate and completed philosophy at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1934-37. His pass course in French at the University of Melbourne was so good that he was offered an honours course, which he completed. Regency was at Riverview, 1938, and St Louis School, Perth, 1939-40, where he was one of the pioneers.

He studied for the long course in theology at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44, and tertianship was at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1945. During his studies he rarely took more than the obligatory minimum of recreation, but was an excellent community man: even-tempered, good-humoured, tenacious but generally unruffled in argument, joining readily in community enterprises.

His first posting after studies was to Newman College, 1946-49, as minister and dean of discipline, as well as lecturer in philosophy. He spent two years at Campion Hall, Oxford, England, studying modern philosophy. He did not gain the doctorate as renal illness hampered his work, but obtained the B Litt in 1951. After visiting Europe, he returned to Melbourne, and was appointed the first Australian-born rector of Xavier College, Kew, 1952, before going to Newman College as rector in 1953. Here, he lectured in apologetics and philosophy. He was also a province consultor, 1952-68.

University people experienced Gleeson as a man who approached life with optimism, enthusiasm and a willingness to become involved. He was seen as a most vital and complete person, deeply loyal to his ideals, people and institutions that merited his support. Highly intelligent, and deeply concerned and knowledgeable about an enormous range of aspects of life, he was capable of grasping with lightning incision, matters that most people could handle only ponderously. He was intense, dynamic and single-minded.

He was a prolific letter-writer. He initiated a building programme that included the Kenny wing, at Newman College that virtually doubled the capacity of the college. He was well read and enjoyed his priestly ministry, especially giving retreats. He said Mass with obvious devotion. He loved sport, and enjoyed winning. He played tennis until his health prevented it. He knew students by name, and enjoyed their company. They, in turn, respected his humility, kindness and thoughtfulness.

Twice called to be acting provincial superior of the Jesuits in Australia, from 1961-66 he was appointed rector of the university scholastics at Campion College, Kew. He was also prefect of studies, bursar, province bursar, and continued to tutor in modern philosophy at Newman College, as well as teaching the history of philosophy at Loyola College, Watsonia.

When his term of office expired in 1966, he was posted to the provincial residence for two years, continuing his work as province bursar and consultor, and lecturing at Newman College. It was during these last few years that he developed the cancer that caused him much distress, and whose treatment caused him additional pain. However, he bore his sufferings with great courage and cheerfulness.

He went to Oxford, England, for a sabbatical in 1969, but became very ill and died there. He was a very spiritual man, hard on himself and on others as a superior, but a delightful companion, and most kind in all personal dealings. He was a very fair superior, upheld all the Society rules and customs, but guided the scholastics on how to combine the life of the secular academic with the dedicated religious. He combined traditional Jesuit piety with academic respectability. He warned the scholastics about 'the natural tendency to ease off spiritually - to become too completely involved in secular study and secular life'. He believed that there were two most necessary virtues for a Jesuit - 'to be perfect in your obedience and to become ever more men of prayer...'

Gleeson found the changes of Vatican II very difficult, especially in the liturgy, but he tried to enter into its spirit. He did not believe that the changes meant that the Church was trying to make life easier for religious. He retained his belief that religious essentially should live 'out of the world' to do God's work among people. He was a man more at home with a spirituality of the cross than that of the resurrection.

As rector of Campion College, the scholastics found him rather strict and old fashioned; as he seemed to want to run the college as his own juniorate some thirty years before had been run. But he was open to representation and made some adjustments and concessions to the Vatican II Church. He was always willing to listen, and always acted decisively when he saw the wisdom of the arguments.

Notwithstanding these qualities, Gleeson was a highly respected man, most gifted and hard working. His only recreation in later life was to play a little tennis and watch Australian Rules football, supporting his team, Hawthorn.

His early death was a great loss to the province, not only for his considerable gifts, but because these were integrated by a strong interior life, which, in spite of his being comparatively reticent about such matters, made itself known to those who lived with him. For all his rather restless activity he was quite obviously a man of prayer, and the contrast drew attention to what otherwise might have gone unnoticed - his dependence on prayer in his decision-making and in the direction of his enormous energy. Short, close-knit, prim and brisk, he had a precise mind and was quick-witted. A 'sharp, alert man of action with too much energy for long-term planning or change', he relished minimizing chaos and magnifying order.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)