Thomas Costelloe | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Thomas Costelloe SJ Title: Rev First Name: Thomas Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Costelloe Order: SJ Date of Birth: 18-May-1905 Place of Birth: Co Galway Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: 1935 Place of Ordination: Milltown Park, Dublin Country of Ordination: Ireland Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 18-Dec-1987 Place of Death: Hornsby NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1987 Place of Burial: Macquarie Park, Ryde NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145497063 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Costelloe, Thomas Pastor and administrator; born Galway, Ireland, 18 May 1905; died Hornsby, NSW, 18 December 1987, aged 82. Tom Costelloe was educated by the Jesuits at St Ignatius' College, Galway, for ten years, and entered the Society of Jesus, 31 August 1921. His Jesuit studies were in Ireland and France. His regency was at Burke Hall, Melbourne, 1928-1932, and he was ordained in 1935 at Milltown Park, Dublin. After his tertianship in Wales in 1936 he returned to Australia, where he taught at Riverview and Kostka Hall until his appointment as rector of Xavier College, Kew, in 1940 at the age of 33. In 1952 he was made rector of Sevenhill, SA, then rector of St. Ignatius' Church, Norwood, SA, from 1954-1960, when he became parish priest of Lavender Bay, North Sydney. In 1962 he was appointed parish priest of North Sydney, then returned to Lavender Bay in 1971, where he remained until his death. He had reputed gifts in administration and finance, and lay people appreciated his short sermons during Mass. His leadership position in the province lasted nearly 50 years. He was recognised as a skilful financial manager and handled the debt problem at Xavier College well. He sold land and removed the debt. The college never looked back. He began a massive building programme called the Rigg Wing, completed the chapel sanctuary with a striking marble altar, and reorganised the grounds. Similarly, he removed all debts in the Norwood parish and school. At North Sydney he remodeled the sanctuary of the Church, and built the Marist Brothers’ school. Jesuits remember him as a community man, rarely away from the house. He loved company and a good story, had a sharp wit, and enjoyed gossip. He was a gifted communicator, and preached well, succinctly and devotionally. He had a striking presence and a beautifully modulated Irish voice that was compelling. He could electrify an audience. He used to give advice to his protégés: to preach a good sermon one needed a good beginning and an interesting conclusion. One should speak loudly, slowly and distinctly. He was a man of wisdom. He gave cautious but wise advice and was a discerning guide. He was a consultor to the Jesuit provincial for some years, and the confidant of bishops, priests, nuns and lay people, in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. He sustained much physical suffering for many years with constant back problems and bronchitis. He finally retired to a nursing home, which he did not appreciate. His last days were not happy ones. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Costelloe

Order:

Date of Birth:

18-May-1905

Place of Birth:

Co Galway

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

1935

Place of Ordination:

Milltown Park, Dublin

Country of Ordination:

Ireland

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

18-Dec-1987

Place of Death:

Hornsby NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1987

Place of Burial:

Macquarie Park, Ryde NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145497063

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Pastor and administrator; born Galway, Ireland, 18 May 1905; died Hornsby, NSW, 18 December 1987, aged 82.

Tom Costelloe was educated by the Jesuits at St Ignatius' College, Galway, for ten years, and entered the Society of Jesus, 31 August 1921. His Jesuit studies were in Ireland and France. His regency was at Burke Hall, Melbourne, 1928-1932, and he was ordained in 1935 at Milltown Park, Dublin.

After his tertianship in Wales in 1936 he returned to Australia, where he taught at Riverview and Kostka Hall until his appointment as rector of Xavier College, Kew, in 1940 at the age of 33. In 1952 he was made rector of Sevenhill, SA, then rector of St. Ignatius' Church, Norwood, SA, from 1954-1960, when he became parish priest of Lavender Bay, North Sydney.

In 1962 he was appointed parish priest of North Sydney, then returned to Lavender Bay in 1971, where he remained until his death. He had reputed gifts in administration and finance, and lay people appreciated his short sermons during Mass. His leadership position in the province lasted nearly 50 years.

He was recognised as a skilful financial manager and handled the debt problem at Xavier College well. He sold land and removed the debt. The college never looked back. He began a massive building programme called the Rigg Wing, completed the chapel sanctuary with a striking marble altar, and reorganised the grounds. Similarly, he removed all debts in the Norwood parish and school. At North Sydney he remodeled the sanctuary of the Church, and built the Marist Brothers’ school.

Jesuits remember him as a community man, rarely away from the house. He loved company and a good story, had a sharp wit, and enjoyed gossip.

He was a gifted communicator, and preached well, succinctly and devotionally. He had a striking presence and a beautifully modulated Irish voice that was compelling. He could electrify an audience. He used to give advice to his protégés: to preach a good sermon one needed a good beginning and an interesting conclusion. One should speak loudly, slowly and distinctly.

He was a man of wisdom. He gave cautious but wise advice and was a discerning guide. He was a consultor to the Jesuit provincial for some years, and the confidant of bishops, priests, nuns and lay people, in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.

He sustained much physical suffering for many years with constant back problems and bronchitis. He finally retired to a nursing home, which he did not appreciate. His last days were not happy ones.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Thomas Costelloe SJ

Biographical Notes