John Fahey | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev John Fahey SJ Title: Rev First Name: John Middle Names: McInerney Preferred Name: Surname: Fahey Order: SJ Date of Birth: 17-Jun-1909 Place of Birth: Running Creek VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 14-Sep-1988 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1988 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466093 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Fahey, John Writer, theologian; born Running Creek, Victoria, 17 June 1909; died Nazareth House, Camberwell, Melbourne, 14 September 1988, aged 79. John Fahey, one of seven children, was educated at St Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, 1921-26, and entered the Society, 23 February 1927, at Loyola, Greenwich. Here he was appreciated for his quiet, calm and unruffled manner that seemed to spring from a deep quality of determination and self-command. He was a powerful athlete and had a keen intelligence. In everything he undertook he was effective, but never spectacular. He had a passion for truth and a hatred for those who mislead others by ‘easy hopes or lies’. Without rancour, he devoted himself to giving positive and solid instruction to those who would listen. In community his strong sense of humour and gift of laughter made him good company. After first vows he was sent to Rathfarnam, Ireland, for his juniorate, studying English, Latin and French, but he did not take out a degree. He studied philosophy at Vals, France, 1932-34, returning to Australia and Xavier College for regency, 1935-37, where he taught Latin, economics and English, and was second division prefect. During these years he was second division prefect and assistant to the prefect of studies. Theology followed at Posillipo, Italy (Naples), and Heythrop College, England, and he was ordained, 30 June 1940. Returning to Australia, Fahey professed dogmatic theology at Canisius College, Pymble, to the Jesuit scholastics, 1942-49, except for tertianship at Watsonia in 1945 and in 1946, when he taught at St Aloysius' College. In 1947 he was appointed chaplain to the Campion Society. As a theology lecturer he was appreciated by the scholastics by speaking slowly so that notes could be taken. He was also in charge of tones, reading at table and the refectory sermons. He encouraged the initiative of the scholastics, but warned them against heresy! The scholastics enjoyed his company because he was a good listener and entertaining. His calm, equable temperament kept him aloof from any contention or discord. He was recognized particularly for his simplicity of communication and a great shrewdness of perception and action. He was assigned to Newman College, the University of Melbourne, 1950-53, as a tutor in philosophy and experimental psychology, but after some disagreement with the provincial, Austin Kelly, he was assigned to Belloc House, where he never assumed any position of authority. From 1985 to 1988, he lived at Xavier College, Kew. It was at the Institute of Social Order, Belloc House, Kew, 1954-84, that Fahey performed his most memorable and important work as a writer and social scientist. These were the times when Catholic social teaching was eagerly sought by the faithful, and Fahey, together with other Jesuit colleagues such as James Muirhead and Bill Smith, reacted to an important need. They lectured, organised 'Summer Schools', and edited and wrote for two periodicals, Twentieth Century and Social Survey. After Vatican II, at the invitation of the Bishops, he traveled country NSW and Victoria giving talks on the social apostolate. He was also involved with the National Catholic Rural Movement, and lectured at the Mercy Training College on philosophy in general and the philosophy of education in particular. Fahey was a highly respected academic and wise priest. He taught Catholic social theology to the students at Genazzano Convent for some years. He had a highly analytical mind, and was noted for his ability to sum up an argument. He was at his most influential on a one-to-one encounter with people, especially over a cup of tea. He was a good listener and good at stimulating thought in others. He was a Socratic educator, heuristic, helping people to reflect upon ideas. Fahey could deal with a great variety of people. His happier encounters were with people such as the bread deliveryman on Saturday mornings whom he engaged in intellectual discussions, rather than with the academic intelligentsia. He accepted everyone as they were, and was open to all. There was no notion of promoting the person of John Fahey; he only wanted to share his insights, and he did that in a competent and self-effacing manner. He was a humble and spiritual man. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

John

Middle Names:

McInerney

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Fahey

Order:

Date of Birth:

17-Jun-1909

Place of Birth:

Running Creek VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

14-Sep-1988

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1988

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466093

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Writer, theologian; born Running Creek, Victoria, 17 June 1909; died Nazareth House, Camberwell, Melbourne, 14 September 1988, aged 79.

John Fahey, one of seven children, was educated at St Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, 1921-26, and entered the Society, 23 February 1927, at Loyola, Greenwich. Here he was appreciated for his quiet, calm and unruffled manner that seemed to spring from a deep quality of determination and self-command. He was a powerful athlete and had a keen intelligence. In everything he undertook he was effective, but never spectacular. He had a passion for truth and a hatred for those who mislead others by ‘easy hopes or lies’. Without rancour, he devoted himself to giving positive and solid instruction to those who would listen. In community his strong sense of humour and gift of laughter made him good company.

After first vows he was sent to Rathfarnam, Ireland, for his juniorate, studying English, Latin and French, but he did not take out a degree. He studied philosophy at Vals, France, 1932-34, returning to Australia and Xavier College for regency, 1935-37, where he taught Latin, economics and English, and was second division prefect. During these years he was second division prefect and assistant to the prefect of studies.

Theology followed at Posillipo, Italy (Naples), and Heythrop College, England, and he was ordained, 30 June 1940. Returning to Australia, Fahey professed dogmatic theology at Canisius College, Pymble, to the Jesuit scholastics, 1942-49, except for tertianship at Watsonia in 1945 and in 1946, when he taught at St Aloysius' College. In 1947 he was appointed chaplain to the Campion Society.

As a theology lecturer he was appreciated by the scholastics by speaking slowly so that notes could be taken. He was also in charge of tones, reading at table and the refectory sermons. He encouraged the initiative of the scholastics, but warned them against heresy! The scholastics enjoyed his company because he was a good listener and entertaining. His calm, equable temperament kept him aloof from any contention or discord. He was recognized particularly for his simplicity of communication and a great shrewdness of perception and action.

He was assigned to Newman College, the University of Melbourne, 1950-53, as a tutor in philosophy and experimental psychology, but after some disagreement with the provincial, Austin Kelly, he was assigned to Belloc House, where he never assumed any position of authority. From 1985 to 1988, he lived at Xavier College, Kew.

It was at the Institute of Social Order, Belloc House, Kew, 1954-84, that Fahey performed his most memorable and important work as a writer and social scientist. These were the times when Catholic social teaching was eagerly sought by the faithful, and Fahey, together with other Jesuit colleagues such as James Muirhead and Bill Smith, reacted to an important need. They lectured, organised 'Summer Schools', and edited and wrote for two periodicals, Twentieth Century and Social Survey. After Vatican II, at the invitation of the Bishops, he traveled country NSW and Victoria giving talks on the social apostolate. He was also involved with the National Catholic Rural Movement, and lectured at the Mercy Training College on philosophy in general and the philosophy of education in particular.

Fahey was a highly respected academic and wise priest. He taught Catholic social theology to the students at Genazzano Convent for some years. He had a highly analytical mind, and was noted for his ability to sum up an argument. He was at his most influential on a one-to-one encounter with people, especially over a cup of tea. He was a good listener and good at stimulating thought in others. He was a Socratic educator, heuristic, helping people to reflect upon ideas.

Fahey could deal with a great variety of people. His happier encounters were with people such as the bread deliveryman on Saturday mornings whom he engaged in intellectual discussions, rather than with the academic intelligentsia. He accepted everyone as they were, and was open to all. There was no notion of promoting the person of John Fahey; he only wanted to share his insights, and he did that in a competent and self-effacing manner. He was a humble and spiritual man.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev John Fahey SJ

Biographical Notes