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

Pastor; born Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, 5 April 1915; died Sydney, 9 February 1914; aged 98.

Joseph Hassan's parents met as a result of their common love for the Church. His father, an engineer from Scotland, was the shipmate of a sailor who invited him on ship-leave to go to his home near Kurseong. Here he met his friend’s sister whom he married later. They settled in Nova Scotia.

When Hassan was four and a half years old, his family immigrated to New Zealand where they settled in Hamilton. He was educated by the Marist Brothers in Hamilton, where he developed a love of languages. As he discerned his future vocation, he corresponded with a Jesuit known to his mother in India.

He was greatly saddened by the death of his mother from cancer. His father had instilled in his children a respect for life, and, in particular, a respect for women. Throughout his long life, regular reconnecting with his family was very important for hm. In turn, they rejoiced in his presence among them. His sister, Joan, and nephew, Peter, from New Zealand, attended his funeral, with the latter giving an appreciative eulogy.

Together with ten others, Hassan entered the Society at Loyola, Greenwich, New South Wales in 1933, having been met at Circular Quay by second year novice, Charles Fraser. He completed all his ecclesiastical studies in Australia, and his regency was at Kostka Hall, Brighton, 1940-42, where he taught and cared for the boys library.

During his priestly ministry he spent some years teaching, first in the Holy Name Seminary, New Zealand, 1960-63, where he taught Latin and biology, was prefect of discipline and directed various sodalities. He was also minister of the house. Being a ‘Pioneer’ himself, he was in charge of the Society of Total Abstinence. His second assignment to teaching was in Indonesia, 1974-78, teaching English to the Jesuit novices in Yogyakarta. They appreciated his work.

However, he is best remembered for being a most faithful and dedicated pastor in parishes. He spent forty-four years of his life as a zealous assistant priest in the Jesuit parishes of Norwood, Lavender Bay, Toowong, Richmond, and one in Jakarta. In preparation for his work among the Italians in Richmond, 1970-73, he was sent to Perugia to study Italian. However, not long after, in 1974, he was sent to Indonesia, where he had the challenge of another language. In latter years, it was Italian, especially lines of Dante that he remembered fondly.

After a short time in Salisbury North in 1979, he went to Georgetown, S.A. for 19 years with eight years as parish priest, 1989-97, living on his own. In all these assignments, Hassan was admired for his kindness, understanding and appreciation of the personal challenges that he encountered among his parishioners. He was a good listener and had a fine memory of people that he had encountered. With his encouragement and support, people felt affirmed by him. He enjoyed company and good conversation, story telling, and sharing memories, frequently interspersed with hearty laughs. Jesuit company was always important to him.

At the age of 84, with increasing blindness, Hassan become a founding member of the Jesuit retirement home, Arrupe House, in 1999, recently built in the grounds of Canisius College, Pymble, NSW, and he spent 14 years there before moving to the Southern Cross Residential Care, North Turramurra, to receive greater care for the last two years of his life. In his early years at Arrupe, he would enjoy accompanying John Bachelor to the Mercy retirement village, McQuoin Park, Waitara, to attend Mass, and socialize with the residents.

Hassan was a gentle, humble, simple man who loved life and being a priest. He was gracious in the reception of people, and grateful for visitors and for help given. Above all was his solid faith and love of the Eucharist. His devotion when receiving the Eucharist in the nursing home brought to him by members of the Arrupe community was edifying. He was a good and faithful servant to the end.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)