Michael Fitzgibbon | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Michael Fitzgibbon SJ Title: Rev First Name: Michael Middle Names: Patrick Preferred Name: Surname: Fitzgibbon Order: SJ Date of Birth: 29-Sep-1889 Place of Birth: Co Limerick Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 22-Jan-1973 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1973 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199185966 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Fitzgibbon, Michael Teacher; born Limerick, Ireland, 29 September 1889; died Melbourne, 22 January 1973, aged 83. Michael Fitzgibbon was taught by the Presentation Sisters in Limerick, and at the Crescent before he entered the Society at Tullamore, 7 September 1906. He completed his juniorate there studying Latin, Greek and English, and later gained a BA in philosophy from the National University. His philosophy studies were at Louvain, 1910-13. He went to Xavier College, Kew, and St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1913-19, for regency, teaching junior classes and French to the Leaving class. He returned to Milltown Park, Dublin, for theology, 1919-22. Immediately after ordination on 18 December 1921, he went teaching to Clongowes, and then to Galway, 1922-25, before completing his theology at Ore Place, Hastings, England. He was a tertian at Tullamore, 1926-27, and returned to teaching in Australia and St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, 1928-34. Then he worked for two years in the Richmond parish, followed by teaching at St Patrick's College, 1936-53, and finally at Xavier College, Kostka Hall, 1953-73. Here he taught religion, French and history until 1964. Apart from teaching, he worked at week-end supplies, heard confessions, gave retreats and tridua in the holidays, and also gave occasional sermons. He was spiritual father to the boys, director of the sodalities, the Crusaders and Apostleship of Prayer. He appreciated the many contacts with priests, former students and friends. Fitzgibbon was a small enthusiastic little man, very Irish in his leanings. He was pious and keenly communicated the contemporary devotions to the boys. He spent the last few years of his life in nursing homes, and he found the inactive life difficult. However, towards the end he came to terms with his life, reminiscing peacefully, even about his failures. He accepted the death of his friends, and the enforced absence from the Jesuit community. Finally, he accepted his fading from life and his total dependence upon others. He had grown in freedom, and he died a happy and contented man. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Michael

Middle Names:

Patrick

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Fitzgibbon

Order:

Date of Birth:

29-Sep-1889

Place of Birth:

Co Limerick

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

22-Jan-1973

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1973

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199185966

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher; born Limerick, Ireland, 29 September 1889; died Melbourne, 22 January 1973, aged 83.

Michael Fitzgibbon was taught by the Presentation Sisters in Limerick, and at the Crescent before he entered the Society at Tullamore, 7 September 1906. He completed his juniorate there studying Latin, Greek and English, and later gained a BA in philosophy from the National University. His philosophy studies were at Louvain, 1910-13.

He went to Xavier College, Kew, and St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1913-19, for regency, teaching junior classes and French to the Leaving class. He returned to Milltown Park, Dublin, for theology, 1919-22. Immediately after ordination on 18 December 1921, he went teaching to Clongowes, and then to Galway, 1922-25, before completing his theology at Ore Place, Hastings, England.

He was a tertian at Tullamore, 1926-27, and returned to teaching in Australia and St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, 1928-34. Then he worked for two years in the Richmond parish, followed by teaching at St Patrick's College, 1936-53, and finally at Xavier College, Kostka Hall, 1953-73. Here he taught religion, French and history until 1964.

Apart from teaching, he worked at week-end supplies, heard confessions, gave retreats and tridua in the holidays, and also gave occasional sermons. He was spiritual father to the boys, director of the sodalities, the Crusaders and Apostleship of Prayer. He appreciated the many contacts with priests, former students and friends.

Fitzgibbon was a small enthusiastic little man, very Irish in his leanings. He was pious and keenly communicated the contemporary devotions to the boys. He spent the last few years of his life in nursing homes, and he found the inactive life difficult. However, towards the end he came to terms with his life, reminiscing peacefully, even about his failures. He accepted the death of his friends, and the enforced absence from the Jesuit community. Finally, he accepted his fading from life and his total dependence upon others. He had grown in freedom, and he died a happy and contented man.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Michael Fitzgibbon SJ

Biographical Notes