Francis Maher | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Francis Maher SJ Title: Rev First Name: Francis Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Maher Order: SJ Date of Birth: 31-Jul-1917 Place of Birth: Yarrawonga VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 20-Mar-2005 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 2005 Place of Burial: Melbourne VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155990096 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Maher, Francis Spiritual director, editor, writer, teacher; born Yarrawonga, Victoria, 31 July 1917; died Melbourne, 20 March 2005, aged 87. The province best remembered Frank Maher for the last 33 years of his life. He was editor of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart for 17 years, and was founder and editor of the Messenger of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary for 16 years, first at Auburn and later at Hampton. He also ran a bookshop at the Marian Centre in East Hampton, and lived in the presbytery of that parish. His school years were spent at the Sacred Heart School, and the Convent of Mercy, Yarrawonga, to 1934. After leaving school he completed a teaching course at the Melbourne Teachers' College in 1938, and later gained a Master of Commerce degree in economics and was a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants. He was engaged in accounting work for three years, and then taught in six schools for eight years. He entered the Society at Watsonia on 13 February 1945 and completed all his Jesuit training in Australia, including tertianship at Sevenhill in 1957. He did not find these studies easy. His contemporaries at Watsonia remember him for his theatrical productions, especially the excellent 'Ned Kelly' by Douglas Stewart. Regency was at Kostka Hall, 1951-52, where he taught mathematics, English and physical education. He was also engaged in coaching Australian Rules, cricket and swimming. He taught modern history, economics and mathematics at St Ignatius' College, Norwood, 1958-61, and then became minister and dean at Aquinas University College, Adelaide, as well as chaplain to the University of Adelaide, 1962-68. This was followed by similar work at St Leo's University College, Brisbane, 1969-71. Here he also taught apologetics and economics. From 1972-74 he lectured in theology at the Jesuit Theological College, Parkville and was active in the charismatic movement. He also began his work as editor of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart. For a year in 1975 he was also spiritual director at Corpus Christi College, Clayton, but returned in 1976 to Parkville, where he continued his work as editor and was engaged in retreat work. He continued this work from Kostka Hall, 1980-89, and from 1990 began his periodical the Messenger of Two Hearts. He moved to the presbytery of East Hampton in 1995 continuing this work, and giving retreats, while being attached to the Provincial Residence. He also run a well-stocked Catholic bookstore in Hampton Street, and arranged a small chapel in the Marian Centre with daily Mass at noon. Maher was an intensely private person, who did not give much of himself or speak about his work. He did not socialize much with other Jesuits, even in community. While courteous and friendly, he kept much to himself, even working from his bedroom while editor of the Messenger. He was very pastoral, saying weekend Masses and giving spiritual direction. He had great devotion to Our Lady, and led a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Overall, he was experienced as a hard worker and a spiritual man, who always had followers who appreciated his spiritual offerings. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Francis

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Maher

Order:

Date of Birth:

31-Jul-1917

Place of Birth:

Yarrawonga VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

20-Mar-2005

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

2005

Place of Burial:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155990096

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Spiritual director, editor, writer, teacher; born Yarrawonga, Victoria, 31 July 1917; died Melbourne, 20 March 2005, aged 87.

The province best remembered Frank Maher for the last 33 years of his life. He was editor of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart for 17 years, and was founder and editor of the Messenger of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary for 16 years, first at Auburn and later at Hampton. He also ran a bookshop at the Marian Centre in East Hampton, and lived in the presbytery of that parish.

His school years were spent at the Sacred Heart School, and the Convent of Mercy, Yarrawonga, to 1934. After leaving school he completed a teaching course at the Melbourne Teachers' College in 1938, and later gained a Master of Commerce degree in economics and was a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants. He was engaged in accounting work for three years, and then taught in six schools for eight years.

He entered the Society at Watsonia on 13 February 1945 and completed all his Jesuit training in Australia, including tertianship at Sevenhill in 1957. He did not find these studies easy. His contemporaries at Watsonia remember him for his theatrical productions, especially the excellent 'Ned Kelly' by Douglas Stewart. Regency was at Kostka Hall, 1951-52, where he taught mathematics, English and physical education. He was also engaged in coaching Australian Rules, cricket and swimming.

He taught modern history, economics and mathematics at St Ignatius' College, Norwood, 1958-61, and then became minister and dean at Aquinas University College, Adelaide, as well as chaplain to the University of Adelaide, 1962-68. This was followed by similar work at St Leo's University College, Brisbane, 1969-71. Here he also taught apologetics and economics.

From 1972-74 he lectured in theology at the Jesuit Theological College, Parkville and was active in the charismatic movement. He also began his work as editor of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart. For a year in 1975 he was also spiritual director at Corpus Christi College, Clayton, but returned in 1976 to Parkville, where he continued his work as editor and was engaged in retreat work. He continued this work from Kostka Hall, 1980-89, and from 1990 began his periodical the Messenger of Two Hearts. He moved to the presbytery of East Hampton in 1995 continuing this work, and giving retreats, while being attached to the Provincial Residence. He also run a well-stocked Catholic bookstore in Hampton Street, and arranged a small chapel in the Marian Centre with daily Mass at noon.

Maher was an intensely private person, who did not give much of himself or speak about his work. He did not socialize much with other Jesuits, even in community. While courteous and friendly, he kept much to himself, even working from his bedroom while editor of the Messenger. He was very pastoral, saying weekend Masses and giving spiritual direction. He had great devotion to Our Lady, and led a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Overall, he was experienced as a hard worker and a spiritual man, who always had followers who appreciated his spiritual offerings.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Francis Maher SJ

Biographical Notes