Death notice, Courier-Mail, Brisbane, 6 September 2025, https://www.couriermail.com.au/tributes/notice/funeral-notices/chalmers-reverend-fr-john-mervyn/6321834/, accessed 10 September 2025:

Chalmers, Reverend Dr John Mervyn. Priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Late of St Vincent's, Carseldine. 29 August 2025.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Apostolic Administrator, invites the Clergy, Religious and people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and all relatives and friends to participate in a Funeral Mass for Father John Chalmers, to be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Stephen, Elizabeth St, Brisbane on Tuesday, 9th September 10.00am. Following Mass, the Funeral will proceed to Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery for the Rite of Christian Burial. All welcome. A Vigil will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Chapel, St Vincent's, 736 Beams Rd, Carseldine at 3.00pm on Sunday 7th September.

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Fr John Chalmers dies aged 76, remembered for his care for those in need, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 1 September 2025, https://catholicleader.com.au/news/qld/fr-john-chalmers-dies-aged-76-remembered-for-his-care-for-those-in-need/, accessed 10 September 2025:

Fr John Chalmers has died aged 76 after a life of service and listening, remembered for his dedication to the communities he served.

A message from archdiocesan leadership said Fr Chalmers died overnight on August 29.

“He is affectionately remembered in (his) communities and across the archdiocese and was much loved by his family and many friends,” vicar-general Fr Peter Dillon said in the message.

“May he rest in peace and experience the eternal presence of Christ he has both loved and served.”

Fr Chalmers served in the parishes of Beaudesert, Zillmere, Lutwyche and Moorooka Salisbury as assistant priest.

But he was perhaps best known for his committed service to Centacare.

He served in Centacare for 19 years, first as Pastoral Ministries director and then Mission and Formation director.

Fr Chalmers celebrated his golden anniversary of priesthood in 2023 and retired from full-time ministry in 2020.

At his retirement celebration in 2020, Fr Chalmers said he was full of gratitude for his life and ministry.

“I’m feeling enormously grateful for who people have been, on the journey,” he said.

He described being pastoral as “having two ears and one mouth”.

He said listening to what happens in people’s lives was essential.

“I’ve found that there are many people over the last 19 years that have shared or talked, and then I’ve listened, and God knows what eventuated …

“You need imagination if you’re going to be a priest who lives in a Church – what kind of priest, for what kind of Church, for what kind of world are we living in? That’s a question that needs to be asked constantly.”

Along with his work with Centacare, he also served as rector of Holy Spirit Seminary from 1995 to 2000 and chaplain at Mater Hospital from 1982 to 1985.

Fr Chalmer’s funeral will be held at 10am next Tuesday, September 9, in St Stephen’s Cathedral.

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Brisbane priest Fr John Chalmers remembered for his courage and ‘grace under pressure’ at funeral Mass today, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 9 September 2025,https://catholicleader.com.au/news/qld/brisbane-priest-fr-john-chalmers-remembered-for-his-courage-and-grace-under-pressure-at-funeral-mass-today/, accessed 10 September 2025:

Brisbane priest Fr John Chalmers was remembered as a man of faith and courage at his funeral Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral this morning.

Brisbane apostolic administrator Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated the funeral Mass and spoke of Fr Chalmer’s lifelong “grace under pressure”.

He said Fr Chalmers was born with deformed feet, requiring irons for 12 years of his childhood.

“From birth John knew disability, yet he refused to allow it to define or defeat him,” Archbishop Coleridge said in his homily.

“In time, he came to discover the beauty even of his disabled feet … and that discovery freed him to announce the Good News of peace far and wide.”

Swimming became Fr Chalmer’s lifelong exercise, though he would later endure multiple surgeries and, in retirement, a steady decline in health.

Despite constant pain, Archbishop Coleridge said, he remained “tenacious, courageous, gutsy – grace under pressure.”

Ordained in 1973, Fr Chalmers served as assistant priest in Beaudesert, Zillmere, Lutwyche and Moorooka–Salisbury.

He was rector of Holy Spirit Seminary from 1995 to 2000, chaplain at the Mater Hospital in the 1980s, and later joined Centacare, where he spent 19 years as director of Pastoral Ministries and then Mission and Formation.

It was in this role that many came to know him as a patient listener.

He often described pastoral ministry as “having two ears and one mouth,” urging priests to use imagination and humility in service.

Archbishop Coleridge said the pressures and disabilities that might have crushed another life instead revealed Christ’s light through Fr Chalmers.

“The glory shone through the brokenness,” he said.

“John was ready with the lighted lamp to greet the Lord whenever he came.

“Now all the pressures fall away and there is only grace, only the glorious body.”

“Jesus is there waiting with open arms, scars shining like the sun.”

Fr Chalmers died on August 29, aged 76.