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

Spiritual director; born Ipswich, Queensland, 24 February 1930; died Brisbane, 1 December 2015, aged 85.

Vincent Hurley entered the Society of Jesus in Melbourne in 1962 at the relatively late age of 32, having been a teacher and primary school principal in the Queensland state system beforehand. Thanks to his tertiary studies and experience in education, he was able to give classes to other Jesuits in training. He had a great love of learning and teaching, and seemed to have complete recall of all he read. Chess was a passion of his. After his formation at Loyola College (Watsonia), Canisius College (Pymble) and Jesuit Theological College (Parkville), he returned to Brisbane for his priestly ordination (1970) in Holy Spirit Church, Auchenflower, which is part of the Jesuit parish of Toowong.

After two years lecturing in education at a Catholic Teachers’ College in Melbourne, Hurley was assigned for the first time to Brisbane, where he remained for the next nineteen years, firstly at St Leo’s College within the University of Queensland, then for four years at Toowong parish. He was rector at St Leo’s for close to twelve years and set up the college council there. Its guest rooms were nearly always full with people doing retreats under his direction. He was much sought after and loved by the religious of Queensland. He retained an abiding affection for St Leo’s. He also taught at Pius X Seminary and was chaplain to doctors and nurses. At Toowong he continued his retreat work and spiritual direction, ministries that were his mainstay for the remainder of his life. He brought them to Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in Melbourne for two years and Canisius CIS in Sydney for eleven years. At the latter he was also assistant to the tertian instructor. From 1994-2013 he was the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer: his prayer leaflets, incorporating a Morning Offering and the Pope’s monthly intentions, were circulated nationwide.

Hurley spent most of his last decade in Brisbane, involved as ever in the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises, even taking it overseas for extended periods to Singapore, where he was a resource for the Canossian Sisters and where he had a massive stroke, from which he never fully recovered. Nonetheless he made efforts to maintain his clientele, offering spiritual direction via Skype and to visitors while he was recovering in hospital. An indefatigable spiritual guide, he loved to give people the benefit of his vast reading and liberating spiritual insights. He could be stubborn and contrary, but he loved to engage people and empower them to read, think and live more fully.

Jackson, James

Brother, bursar; born Sydney, NSW, 24 January 1887; died Melbourne, 25 January 1956, aged 69.

James Jackson was educated at Richmond, St Patrick's College, and Xavier College. After some years in business, he entered the Society as a scholastic novice at Tullamore, Ireland, 6 August 1907, but during his juniorate followed his original desire and became a brother.

He worked first as a secretary to the Irish provincial, 1911-13, and after domestic duties at Riverview and Loyola College, Greenwich, 1913-16, began a long period of his life at Xavier College, Kew, 1917-54. Here he keep the accounts, helped in the tuck shop, worked in the sacristy, and was pocket-money dispenser. He retired to Loyola College, Watsonia, for the last few years of his life.

Jackson was a modest, gentle, retiring and observant religious. He showed an unconsciousness of self that was in harmony with great dignity. He was not abnormally meek nor withdrawn nor submissive. In fact his opinions on many subjects were decisively held, and another did not easily influence his mind. He was remarkably charitable to others, but this did not blind him to the weaknesses of human nature. He was never aggressive but could be firm when necessary, kind but not over-indulgent. He lived a simple, humble life.

He was much appreciated at Xavier College, by staff and students alike. His account books were most neatly kept. He would attend Old Xaverian functions, but usually stayed in the background. He was not shy, but had a natural reserve. He had a genuine interest in people and was a friend to all. He enjoyed football and closely followed the Richmond club. While he never preached a sermon, his life was a living testimony to the life of perfection that he had chosen.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)