Rev Maurice Pietzsch SJ
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Maurice
Middle Names:
Oswin
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Pietzsch
Order:
SJ
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Coburg VIC
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Sydney NSW
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Macquarie Park, Ryde NSW
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Pietzsch, Maurice
Teacher, pastor; born Coburg, Victoria, 27 November 1926; died Sydney, 13 October 1979, aged 52.
Maurice Pietzsch was a man who drove himself hard and had high expectations of others. He was something of a rigorist in his standards and very energetic. He developed angina in his 40s, but this was accepted with cheerfulness and resignation, even with the realisation that he would probably not live a long life.
Of the five children in the family, two sisters became nuns, and two brothers became priests. He was devout and an enthusiast for every interest, whether it was the cadets, St Patrick's College, discipline, photography, the missions, parish and retreat work, or Our Lady.
He was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and retained a strong loyalty and attachment to that school. He entered the Jesuit noviciate, 1 February 1944, studied science at RMIT, and undertook regency at St Patrick's and St Louis. He was ordained on 8 January 1958 before going to Riverview where he was rowing master. He returned to St Patrick's in 1962 as senior physics master and OC cadets after tertianship at Sevenhill in 1961. He also coached the senior cricket and football teams, as well as the athletics.
In 1968 St Patrick's College was closed, much to Pietzsch's distress. He was transferred to St Ignatius' College, Athelstone. He brought with him, among other things, most of a biology laboratory; much needed equipment for this new school.
Commitment and dedication were major characteristics of Pietzsch's life. He was closely involved with the building and construction of the college at Athelstone. In addition his priestly life was important, especially preaching retreats. He gave the 30-day retreat regularly to the Marist Brothers. He coached sport, worked for drama productions, was prefect of discipline, and delighted in the company of many families. He was especially kind to the sick and needy.
Finding the changes in education difficult, he worked at pastoral duties from St Mary's, North Sydney, with his accustomed energy. However, his heart caused difficulties and he had two major operations, finally dying in hospital during a routine check-up. Cheerful, black-and-white, and spiritual, Pietzsch loved being a Jesuit priest.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)