Henry Wilkins | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Henry Wilkins SJ Title: Rev First Name: Henry Middle Names: George Preferred Name: Surname: Wilkins Order: SJ Date of Birth: 14-Feb-1912 Place of Birth: Semaphore, Adelaide SA Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 23-May-1979 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1979 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199464912 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Wilkins, Henry Writer, editor, spiritual director; born Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, 14 February 1912; died in Melbourne, 23 May 1979, aged 67. Henry Wilkins, generally known as 'Herbie', entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 18 February 1928, at the age of 16. He studied humanities at the National University of Ireland, Dublin, 1930-33, gaining a second class honours arts degree, and then studied philosophy at Egenhoven and Tullamore, 1933-36. Regency was at Xavier College, Kostka Hall, and Riverview, 1936-40. Theology was completed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44, and tertianship followed in 1945 at Loyola College, Watsonia. Wilkins' first status was to Corpus Christi College, Werribee, 1946-48, where he taught philosophy, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. From 1949-52 he was teaching religion and Latin at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and then began his work with the Sodality of Our Lady from 1953, when he became editor of the Madonna, which he continued until his death. During that time he lived at the provincial residence, 1953-57, the parish of Richmond, 1958-65, Campion College, 1966-70, and then, while superior, at Richmond, 1975-77. Three qualities seemed to be all-pervasive in his life. First, there was an inflexible straightness. He said what he thought and he acted as he thought fit. He was not easily moved by the thoughts of others. His directness seemed to irritate superiors who interpreted this as defiance, but Wilkins did not see that to be true. In each place he worked, schools or seminaries, he was loved and respected by his students. He was utterly dedicated to the preaching of the Gospel. Yet, he seemed to rile superiors. When he assumed the role of National Secretary of the Sodality, he interpreted its rules with characteristic rigidity and the Sodalities began to disappear rapidly. Another quality of Wilkins was his tendency to extreme conduct, a kind of 'overkill', whether it was in the sartorial elegance of his earlier years or his editorial experiments at a later time. What cost him the most suffering in his life and left him only in his last years was an abiding sense of alienation. He was an extremely sensitive person, but he did not show this. He experienced his posting to Christchurch and the seminary for a time as a rejection from Australia. It was at this time that he printed his Memorial Card, describing himself as an 'unworthy son'. This helped his brethren realise that moving from house to house wounded him deeply. Yet he did little to change the situation. He seemed to have had an inbuilt urge to self-destruction. His own personal suffering gave him a great sympathy and even an empathy with other sufferers whether it was in body or mind. His Assumption Sodality for the sick was a constant witness to this. Throughout his life he experienced poor eyesight and defective hearing, about which he failed to inform others. This too cut him off from others, and people felt that Wilkins was ignoring them. In his latter years he avoided all normal medical attention. He took up yoga and natural food diets. He visited Chinese herbalists and acupuncturists. Despite these characteristics, Wilkins was very likeable. Especially in his latter years when he was spiritual director to the scholastics at Campion College, he showed great warmth and appreciation for the young men, and they, in turn, indicated how much they appreciated his presence among them. He usually took to heart their causes. The periodical Madonna gave him an entree to many hearts. He tried to write to each of his many subscribers and frequently contacted them by telephone. He anticipated Vatican II by many years, and when that Council ended, Wilkins was well on the way to Vatican III. He was happy during the years he was in charge of Messenger House and was a superior for a time. His interests were always those of a good priest, the spiritual life, the things of God and the people he served. His availability to those in need was well known and appreciated. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Henry

Middle Names:

George

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Wilkins

Order:

Date of Birth:

14-Feb-1912

Place of Birth:

Semaphore, Adelaide SA

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

23-May-1979

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1979

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199464912

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Writer, editor, spiritual director; born Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, 14 February 1912; died in Melbourne, 23 May 1979, aged 67.

Henry Wilkins, generally known as 'Herbie', entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 18 February 1928, at the age of 16. He studied humanities at the National University of Ireland, Dublin, 1930-33, gaining a second class honours arts degree, and then studied philosophy at Egenhoven and Tullamore, 1933-36. Regency was at Xavier College, Kostka Hall, and Riverview, 1936-40. Theology was completed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44, and tertianship followed in 1945 at Loyola College, Watsonia.

Wilkins' first status was to Corpus Christi College, Werribee, 1946-48, where he taught philosophy, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. From 1949-52 he was teaching religion and Latin at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and then began his work with the Sodality of Our Lady from 1953, when he became editor of the Madonna, which he continued until his death. During that time he lived at the provincial residence, 1953-57, the parish of Richmond, 1958-65, Campion College, 1966-70, and then, while superior, at Richmond, 1975-77.

Three qualities seemed to be all-pervasive in his life. First, there was an inflexible straightness. He said what he thought and he acted as he thought fit. He was not easily moved by the thoughts of others. His directness seemed to irritate superiors who interpreted this as defiance, but Wilkins did not see that to be true. In each place he worked, schools or seminaries, he was loved and respected by his students. He was utterly dedicated to the preaching of the Gospel. Yet, he seemed to rile superiors.

When he assumed the role of National Secretary of the Sodality, he interpreted its rules with characteristic rigidity and the Sodalities began to disappear rapidly.

Another quality of Wilkins was his tendency to extreme conduct, a kind of 'overkill', whether it was in the sartorial elegance of his earlier years or his editorial experiments at a later time.

What cost him the most suffering in his life and left him only in his last years was an abiding sense of alienation. He was an extremely sensitive person, but he did not show this. He experienced his posting to Christchurch and the seminary for a time as a rejection from Australia. It was at this time that he printed his Memorial Card, describing himself as an 'unworthy son'.

This helped his brethren realise that moving from house to house wounded him deeply. Yet he did little to change the situation. He seemed to have had an inbuilt urge to self-destruction. His own personal suffering gave him a great sympathy and even an empathy with other sufferers whether it was in body or mind. His Assumption Sodality for the sick was a constant witness to this. Throughout his life he experienced poor eyesight and defective hearing, about which he failed to inform others. This too cut him off from others, and people felt that Wilkins was ignoring them.

In his latter years he avoided all normal medical attention. He took up yoga and natural food diets. He visited Chinese herbalists and acupuncturists.

Despite these characteristics, Wilkins was very likeable. Especially in his latter years when he was spiritual director to the scholastics at Campion College, he showed great warmth and appreciation for the young men, and they, in turn, indicated how much they appreciated his presence among them. He usually took to heart their causes.

The periodical Madonna gave him an entree to many hearts. He tried to write to each of his many subscribers and frequently contacted them by telephone.

He anticipated Vatican II by many years, and when that Council ended, Wilkins was well on the way to Vatican III. He was happy during the years he was in charge of Messenger House and was a superior for a time. His interests were always those of a good priest, the spiritual life, the things of God and the people he served. His availability to those in need was well known and appreciated.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Henry Wilkins SJ

Biographical Notes