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

Administrator, pastor, chaplain; born Ardmore, Ireland, 14 December 1903; died Sydney, 24 February 1998, aged 94.

Richard Harris was educated at Mungret College, Limerick, as a boarder, his family working a store in the small seaside village of Ardmore, county Waterford. He entered the Society at Tullamore, 30 December 1922, being drawn to the Jesuits because of their missionary work in the Far East. After the noviciate he studied at the National University, Dublin, gaining a BA degree in mathematics, Latin and English.

Philosophy followed at St Antonio, Chieri, Italy, 1927-28, a place that tested his vocation because it was difficult to enter into the life of the community. He, and others, found the place in those days, cold and austere, regimented and hard. He was challenged to develop an inner strength and a strong life of prayer at this time.

From Italy, Harris went to Hong Kong and Canton for regency, 1929-32. He spent the first year studying Cantonese in the Portuguese mission at Shui Hing, and it was another lonely time, as he could communicate with so few people, and he only ate rice. In Canton he also taught English in the Catholic secondary school. At this time two of his fellow Jesuit priests died of cholera.

In 1932 he returned to Milltown Park, Dublin, for theology, and was ordained in 1935. Tertianship followed immediately after theology at St Beuno's, Wales, 1936-37.

The following year he returned to Hong Kong as professor of moral theology at the regional seminary, Aberdeen, teaching there until 1947. He was also rector of the same place, 1947-51.

In 1941 Hong Kong experienced many bomb raids with the advent of the War, and Harris heard confessions in the Grosvenor Hotel where he had many clients. During these days he acted as chaplain and staff assistant, tending the injured and dying at the Queen Mary Hospital at Pokfulan just prior to the surrender of Hong Kong to the Japanese Imperial Army.

During the Japanese occupation Harris was a great source of strength to his fellow Jesuits. The community survived because of a bargain struck with some influential and rich Chinese who loaned bars of gold to buy rice and vegetables. The condition of the bargain was that the Jesuits had to re-pay two gold bars for every one at the end of the War.

During these years Harris nearly died from fever. As medicines were scarce, the doctor prescribed a dose of opium. Harris said that he enjoyed that experience. He was even given a second dose!

Shortly after the Japanese surrender, Admiral Harcourt arrived in Hong Kong aboard the British flagship with an Irish Jesuit chaplain who sought out Harris and his companions. News of their safety was telegraphed to Ireland. After six months rest and recuperation in Ireland, Harris returned to Hong Kong as rector of the seminary where he trained sixty seminarians who later worked as priests in south China.

He was appointed superior of the Hong Kong mission, 1950-57, and became highly respected amongst the academic and medical community of Hong Kong, including the governor of the day, Sir William Gratham, who granted the Jesuits two generous amounts of land on which to build two secondary colleges. They are the present day Wah Yan colleges in Hong Kong and Kowloon.

In 1957 he was appointed superior of Ricci Hall, the Catholic residential hall of Hong Kong University. Five years later he was sent as parish priest of Patalingjaya, Malaysia, until 1964. He was there for only two years until the Malaysian government, which was anti-Christian and Muslim, demanded that the parish be closed.

Rather than return to Hong Kong, Harris chose to go to Australia as he wished to perform parish work and believed that opportunities existed in Australia. In September 1965 Harris arrived in Sydney, being greeted by Fr Paul Coleman, and after a short time at St Mary's North Sydney, was sent to the parish of St Ignatius', Richmond, where he spent a pleasant and happy six years. He was also minister, and hospital chaplain.

He returned to St Mary's in 1971 performing similar duties until 1987. He became a very popular priest with all kinds of people and was a committed visitor to patients of the Mater Hospital, public and private. He was in demand for his sound and experienced advice. He enjoyed keeping informed about world events and sporting results. He had three significant joys: his worn Irish horn rosary beads, a small battered transistor radio, and a sip of Irish Bailey's. Harris said that he never had any regrets in his life, and thanked God daily for being a priest, and for being able to work with good health for so long.

For two years he became chaplain at the Retirement Hostel, McAuley Gardens, Crow's Nest, and then moved in 1990 to Justinian House, Crow's Nest, where his daily Mass was much appreciated by residents and local followers. For the last year of his life he lived at Canisius College, Pymble, praying for the Church and Society. He died suddenly after a severe stroke, and he was buried from St Mary's Church, North Sydney, his eulogy being given by his long time friend and supporter, Fr Paul Coleman.

He was a man of warm humanity, kindly acceptance and intuitive insight into the needs of the human heart. He was a totally human person tinged with the stubbornness of the Irish, but had a sparkling wit. He encouraged and sustained all those who came to know and love him. He became an anchor and a symbol of constancy for those privileged to cross his path.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)