Francis Gorman | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Francis Gorman SJ Title: Rev First Name: Francis Middle Names: Joseph Preferred Name: Surname: Gorman Order: SJ Date of Birth: 07-Aug-1917 Place of Birth: North Melbourne VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 13-Apr-1992 Place of Death: Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1992 Place of Burial: Macquarie Park, Ryde NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145507075 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Gorman, Francis Teacher, administrator, military chaplain; born North Melbourne, 7 August 1917; died Sydney, 13 April 1992, aged 74. Frank Gorman, who entered the Society, 1 March 1937, had a firm conviction about the value and importance of the schools apostolate. He was a good schoolmaster, appreciated for his teaching, his ability to communicate, to relate well with young people, to organise and to inspire enthusiasm. He was at various times division prefect at Riverview, prefect of studies and rector at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, rector of St Ignatius College, Riverview, and teacher of English, Latin and religion at St Aloysius College, Milson's Point. In all these places he taught, and coached football, cricket and rowing, and was always involved with the cadets. As rector of Riverview from 1961, he showed great presence and affability, and was remembered for the new enthusiasm that was generated into every aspect of school life. He was responsible for the building of the junior school, and was elected chairman of the NSW chapter of the Headmasters' Conference of Australia. In 1964 Riverview won the first VIII, first IV, first XV, junior and senior athletics, debating and the Lawrence Campbell oratory competition. Gorman greatly fostered the Old Boys Union and was a regular visitor to country reunions. He also taught religion and English. He served as a chaplain to the armed forces, 1968-71. He began this association with the army when he was a scholastic at Riverview and was appointed an officer in charge of cadets. When his term of office as rector of Riverview was completed, he was appointed chaplain in the regular army. He served at several camps in Australia and did a tour of duty in Vietnam during that war. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration for long military service. These were happy years for him. He liked the regularity, the comradeship, discipline, and the ceremonial of army life. His experience as a teacher made him popular as a lecturer. His approachability, his sense of humour and ease of manner enabled him to do effective work as a chaplain to the troops. He even refereed inter-service rugby matches. He was a pastoral priest, travelling to country parishes to relieve priest friends and enjoy the satisfaction of bringing the sacraments to country people. He served also as a hospital chaplain at Royal North Shore until his fatal illness made it impossible for him to continue. Gorman had a fine gift for friendship. He was a valued friend and confidant to many students, parents, teachers, families and army personnel. His qualities of loyalty, understanding, optimism, cheerfulness, and the ability to emphathise with others in their weakness were all appreciated. He was honest, straightforward, outgoing, generous, nothing mean. He suffered from depression after his return from Vietnam, yet, despite this, he continued to be a good shepherd as much as possible. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Francis

Middle Names:

Joseph

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Gorman

Order:

Date of Birth:

07-Aug-1917

Place of Birth:

North Melbourne VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

13-Apr-1992

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1992

Place of Burial:

Macquarie Park, Ryde NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145507075

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher, administrator, military chaplain; born North Melbourne, 7 August 1917; died Sydney, 13 April 1992, aged 74.

Frank Gorman, who entered the Society, 1 March 1937, had a firm conviction about the value and importance of the schools apostolate. He was a good schoolmaster, appreciated for his teaching, his ability to communicate, to relate well with young people, to organise and to inspire enthusiasm. He was at various times division prefect at Riverview, prefect of studies and rector at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, rector of St Ignatius College, Riverview, and teacher of English, Latin and religion at St Aloysius College, Milson's Point. In all these places he taught, and coached football, cricket and rowing, and was always involved with the cadets.

As rector of Riverview from 1961, he showed great presence and affability, and was remembered for the new enthusiasm that was generated into every aspect of school life. He was responsible for the building of the junior school, and was elected chairman of the NSW chapter of the Headmasters' Conference of Australia. In 1964 Riverview won the first VIII, first IV, first XV, junior and senior athletics, debating and the Lawrence Campbell oratory competition. Gorman greatly fostered the Old Boys Union and was a regular visitor to country reunions. He also taught religion and English.

He served as a chaplain to the armed forces, 1968-71. He began this association with the army when he was a scholastic at Riverview and was appointed an officer in charge of cadets. When his term of office as rector of Riverview was completed, he was appointed chaplain in the regular army. He served at several camps in Australia and did a tour of duty in Vietnam during that war. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration for long military service.

These were happy years for him. He liked the regularity, the comradeship, discipline, and the ceremonial of army life. His experience as a teacher made him popular as a lecturer. His approachability, his sense of humour and ease of manner enabled him to do effective work as a chaplain to the troops. He even refereed inter-service rugby matches.

He was a pastoral priest, travelling to country parishes to relieve priest friends and enjoy the satisfaction of bringing the sacraments to country people. He served also as a hospital chaplain at Royal North Shore until his fatal illness made it impossible for him to continue.

Gorman had a fine gift for friendship. He was a valued friend and confidant to many students, parents, teachers, families and army personnel. His qualities of loyalty, understanding, optimism, cheerfulness, and the ability to emphathise with others in their weakness were all appreciated. He was honest, straightforward, outgoing, generous, nothing mean. He suffered from depression after his return from Vietnam, yet, despite this, he continued to be a good shepherd as much as possible.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Francis Gorman SJ

Biographical Notes