Francis Connell | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Francis Connell SJ Title: Rev First Name: Francis Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Connell Order: SJ Date of Birth: 31-Mar-1864 Place of Birth: Melbourne VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 12-Jul-1951 Place of Death: Pymble NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1951 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/306416230 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Connell, Francis Teacher and pastor; born Melbourne, 31 March 1864; died Pymble, NSW, 12 July 1951, aged 87. Frank Connell, brother of Dominic, educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1877-85, entered the Society at Xavier College, Kew, 12 November 1886, and after his juniorate at Xavier College, he did his regency, first at St Aloysius' College, 1889-90, then at Riverview, 1890-92, and finally at Xavier College, 1892-94. At Riverview he was popular with his singing at the boys' concerts. He was also director of rowing, and, in 1891, he welcomed the governor and his wife, Lord and Lady Jersey, to a rowing regatta. He went to Louvain and Stonyhurst for philosophy, 1894-97, and Milltown Park for theology, 1897-1900. Tertianship immediately followed at Merate, Italy. From 1901-4 he taught at Mungret College, but returned to St Aloysius' College, Sydney, as first prefect, 1904-5. Then followed a long time at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1906-14, where he was also president of the men's Sodality, 1906-12. Apart from parish duties at Norwood, South Australia, 1917-21, where he was involved with the choir and taught catechism in the local schools, he spent most of the rest of his working life at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1921-47. He spent his last years, 1947-51, praying for the Society at Canisius College, Pymble. Connell, reputed to be a kind and thoughtful man by his former students, was a gifted linguist in French, German, Spanish and Italian, and a respected teacher in his earlier years. He wrote many poems that appeared in Our Alma Mater. However, he was cursed with a strong temper that he never succeeded in conquering. The turning point in his life came at Norwood in 1920. There was some problem that resulted in his removal to Riverview, where the rector was instructed to supervise his correspondence and movements. Connell took this very badly, allowed himself to become embittered against all superiors and even against the Society, and he did not conceal his bitterness from others, even from the boys at Riverview. Of course this only convinced superiors of the necessity of keeping him under restraint. He remained an unhappy man and refused to be reconciled with superiors. However, his final move to Pymble was a happier occasion, and he ended his life with greater peace. At the time of his death, he was the oldest man in the province. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Francis

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Connell

Order:

Date of Birth:

31-Mar-1864

Place of Birth:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

12-Jul-1951

Place of Death:

Pymble NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1951

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/306416230

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher and pastor; born Melbourne, 31 March 1864; died Pymble, NSW, 12 July 1951, aged 87.

Frank Connell, brother of Dominic, educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1877-85, entered the Society at Xavier College, Kew, 12 November 1886, and after his juniorate at Xavier College, he did his regency, first at St Aloysius' College, 1889-90, then at Riverview, 1890-92, and finally at Xavier College, 1892-94. At Riverview he was popular with his singing at the boys' concerts. He was also director of rowing, and, in 1891, he welcomed the governor and his wife, Lord and Lady Jersey, to a rowing regatta.

He went to Louvain and Stonyhurst for philosophy, 1894-97, and Milltown Park for theology, 1897-1900. Tertianship immediately followed at Merate, Italy. From 1901-4 he taught at Mungret College, but returned to St Aloysius' College, Sydney, as first prefect, 1904-5.

Then followed a long time at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1906-14, where he was also president of the men's Sodality, 1906-12. Apart from parish duties at Norwood, South Australia, 1917-21, where he was involved with the choir and taught catechism in the local schools, he spent most of the rest of his working life at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1921-47. He spent his last years, 1947-51, praying for the Society at Canisius College, Pymble.

Connell, reputed to be a kind and thoughtful man by his former students, was a gifted linguist in French, German, Spanish and Italian, and a respected teacher in his earlier years. He wrote many poems that appeared in Our Alma Mater.

However, he was cursed with a strong temper that he never succeeded in conquering. The turning point in his life came at Norwood in 1920. There was some problem that resulted in his removal to Riverview, where the rector was instructed to supervise his correspondence and movements. Connell took this very badly, allowed himself to become embittered against all superiors and even against the Society, and he did not conceal his bitterness from others, even from the boys at Riverview. Of course this only convinced superiors of the necessity of keeping him under restraint. He remained an unhappy man and refused to be reconciled with superiors. However, his final move to Pymble was a happier occasion, and he ended his life with greater peace. At the time of his death, he was the oldest man in the province.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Francis Connell SJ

Biographical Notes