Joe Higgins, Fr Ivan Hernon, 99, gives thanks to God for 70 years of priesthood, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 30 June 2025,https://catholicleader.com.au/news/qld/fr-ivan-hernon-99-gives-thanks-to-god-for-70-years-of-priesthood/, accessed on 4 July 2025:

Retired Cairns priest Fr Ivan Hernon sees the goodness and richness of God in every day of his long-lived priesthood.

“I thank and praise God for his blessings to me and for the people who shared my life, and may my coming days even fill with me joy too,” he said.

The 99-year-old celebrated his 70th anniversary of priesthood at a Mass at Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary, Banyo, today.

Cairns Bishop Joe Caddy led the Mass with Bishop Emeritus James Foley, seminary rector Fr Neil Muir and other priests of the archdiocese concelebrating with Fr Hernon.

Fr Hernon prayed part of the Eucharistic prayer and shared a prayer of gratitude during the Prayers of the Faithful.

In his homily, Bishop Caddy gave thanks for Fr Hernon’s priesthood, reaching out to so many people with “God’s love and mercy”.

Bishop Emeritus Foley said Fr Hernon always had the right sense of humour to keep him going through any challenges.
“He’s a great man and he’s great with people,” he said.

It was not everyday a priest celebrates 70 years of priesthood.

Fr Hernon said he never expected it.

His advice to any young priests was to “take each day as it comes” and to thank God each day for the many blessings He gives.

Originally from Coorparoo, Fr Hernon attended school at St James Coorparoo and later at Gregory Terrace.

Four of the five Hernon children entered religious life.

Fr Hernon started work as a Telegram Boy at the GPO Brisbane, now the Australia Post, before completing secondary school.

As a young teenager he was delivering telegrams on a push bike, day and night, all over Brisbane.

Many of those telegrams were to families who had lost loved ones fighting in the Second World War.

Later he transferred to the Federal Taxation, now the Australian Tax Office, where he worked for a few years before entering the Seminary in February 1947 to become a priest for Brisbane archdiocese.

Once ordained, Fr Hernon accepted an appeal for priests to go north to Cairns diocese, which he said was one of those many blessings.

Fr Hernon arrived in Cairns on December 21, 1955.

He lived at the bishop’s house and ministered in St Monica’s Cathedral parish.

A year later he was appointed administrator of the cathedral.

In 1959 he was appointed the first parish priest of West Cairns and six years later the first parish priest of Edmonton.

His other appointments as parish priest included Tully, St Joseph’s Parramatta Park and finally, Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands.
Fr Hernon is looking forward to his 100th birthday in seven months time.

“As I look back and thank and praise God for all he’s done for me and all I’ve come in contact with, it challenges me to keep going,” he said.

He said his anniversary was about “the goodness of God in guiding me through a life with many variations of richness”.

Long-time friend Carmel Hunter said in all his pastoral ministry “Father Ivan was regarded as a kind, respectful, supportive, and conscientious priest with a strong sense of duty and commitment”.

She said he lived and took inspiration from the principles of the Second Vatican Council, supporting many programs aimed at faith education and formation for lay people.

Fr Hernon still offered a Mass each week to the residents in the aged care section of his St Vincent’s community.

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Joe Higgins, Fr Ivan Hernon dies age 99, remembered for his love of serving God and people, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 7 January 2026, https://catholicleader.com.au/news/qld/fr-ivan-hernon-dies-age-99-remembered-for-his-love-of-serving-god-and-people/

Retired Brisbane priest Fr Ivan Hernon, 99, died last week on January 1.

A message from vicar general Fr Peter Dillon said Fr Hernon was affectionately remembered in Cairns diocese, where he served for more than 45 years, and was much-loved by his family and friends.

Fr Hernon also served as a supply priest for 25 years in many parishes across Brisbane archdiocese.

“May he rest in peace and experience the eternal presence of Christ he has both loved and served,” Fr Dillon said.

Fr Hernon spoke to The Catholic Leader in June last year at his 70th anniversary of priestly ordination.

There, Fr Hernon shared some advice to young priests, saying “take each day as it comes” and to thank God each day for the many blessings He gives.

Originally from Coorparoo, Fr Hernon attended school at St James Coorparoo and later at Gregory Terrace.

Four of the five Hernon children entered religious life.

Fr Hernon started work as a Telegram Boy at the GPO Brisbane, now the Australia Post, before completing secondary school.

As a young teenager he was delivering telegrams on a push bike, day and night, all over Brisbane.

Many of those telegrams were to families who had lost loved ones fighting in the Second World War.

Later he transferred to the Federal Taxation, now the Australian Tax Office, where he worked for a few years before entering the Seminary in February 1947 to become a priest for Brisbane archdiocese.

Once ordained, Fr Hernon accepted an appeal for priests to go north to Cairns diocese, which he said was one of those many blessings.

Fr Hernon arrived in Cairns on December 21, 1955.

He lived at the bishop’s house and ministered in St Monica’s Cathedral parish.

A year later he was appointed administrator of the cathedral.

In 1959 he was appointed the first parish priest of West Cairns and six years later the first parish priest of Edmonton.

His other appointments as parish priest included Tully, St Joseph’s Parramatta Park and finally, Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands.

“As I look back and thank and praise God for all he’s done for me and all I’ve come in contact with, it challenges me to keep going,” he said.

He said his anniversary was about “the goodness of God in guiding me through a life with many variations of richness”.

A Funeral Mass will be held on at St Vincents Aged Care, Carseldine, on January 16 at 10am.