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

Teacher, retreat director; born Sydney, NSW, 19 March 1928; died Riverview, NSW, 9 May 1982, aged 54.

Charles McDonald came from a well-known family. His father, Sir Charles McDonald, was not only a noted physician but also a many-faceted scholar who, though an outstanding Catholic, achieved great eminence in Sydney's secular world, becoming Chancellor of Sydney University at a time when it was generally accepted that any such honour would be closed to a Catholic.

As a youth, McDonald had a natural gracefulness and also some diffidence. At school, St Ignatius' College, Riverview, he failed to matriculate because he failed to complete one of his Leaving papers. He debated and was also good at sprinting and rugby, but he lacked the 'killer' instinct required of a good GPS player.

McDonald entered the Jesuit noviciate, 14 March 1946, at Loyola College, Watsonia, and his lack of qualifications inhibited him during his Jesuit studies. His perfectionism, his meticulous attention to detail was probably the result of some special need to compensate for not having done a university degree. During philosophy studies, no one suffered as much as he did at the approach of the weekly Saturday morning repetition, which for him was sheer agony. His very attention to detail only increased his natural dilatoriness.

When he was posted to St Aloysius' College for regency, 1953-55, he seemed apprehensive and diffident, but again gave himself to his work with his customary determination and attention to detail. He taught religion, English and Latin, directed the debating and coached sport, which he also did later at St Louis, Perth, 1960, and for so long at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1962-80. His tertianship was in Australia, 1961 at Sevenhill, as all his studies had. This was the last tertianship within the country for some years.

St Ignatius' College was the place for his life's labours. Most remarkable of all was his talent for training debaters. They became a 'school within a school'. He spent 18 years doing this work with great skill, energy, and devotion. He won the GPS premiership 14 out of 17 years, and the Lawrence Campbell Oratory Trophy ten times; eight times in a row between 1962 and 1969. Over the same period at least one Riverview boy was selected every year as a speaker in the Combined GPS team of four; two boys in ten of those years; while a Riverview boy was chosen as Captain of the Combined GPS in 14 of those 17 years. This record was the envy of all the other GPS schools.

The reasons for McDonald's success were his whole philosophy of debating and the mental approach he imparted. He believed that debating should teach tolerance and conviction, honesty and thorough thinking and above all, teamwork. McDonald's debaters were not success-directed; rather he elicited the best from each boy in a disciplined way. He was passionate about debating and worked long hours with each team.

Towards the end of these years, McDonald became tired, and his creativity became impaired, making him more dependent than he should have been on his demanding daily routine.

Superiors tried to give him a sabbatical. A venture towards a spiritual 'update' had not been felicitous; and McDonald did not want an overseas trip. His tenacity and logic proved impervious to argument for some years. Finally, he was convinced to undertake a spiritual renewal course. He went to Canada to the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality under the direction of Father John English, whose reputation for spiritual retreats was unrivalled. It was a wonderful year for him, a real liberation, and he asked the provincial if he could do retreat work. He became a fine spiritual director. He certainly had both the natural and spiritual gifts to be a success.

McDonald returned to Australia and joined the Ignatian spirituality team at Canisius College, Pymble, and threw himself into his work with characteristic dedication and new zest. He celebrated life as never before. His homilies, renewed with personal experiences, were superbly crafted. He had special regard for women religious. However, during a retreat at Douglas Park, he complained of being very tired and consulted doctors. In May, a CLC retreat had been organised at Riverview. At morning tea on the first day of the retreat, he mentioned to a fellow Jesuit that he had never been happier as he was then after returning from his recent sabbatical. The following morning he did not appear for his retreat duties and he was found peacefully still in bed. He had died some hours before.

As a retreat giver he was appreciated for his compassion, and generous sharing of himself. He was a good listener, and was a prayerful man. His fellow retreat team enjoyed his sense of humour, sensitivity to others, and his gentleness.

McDonald was a man of taste, scholarship, disorder, one for meticulous detail, and with a love for his family. He was a man who emanated deep joy and happiness. His face frequently cracked into a disarming smile and he had an infectious laugh. These qualities especially showed themselves in the great enthusiasm and rigour with which he undertook teaching English, coaching debating or rugby, or selecting films for the boarders. He had great love and respect for his students, and he became an inspiration for many. To the staff he was most welcoming and supportive, challenging them to offer the best to their students, while trusting in their own methods of teaching.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)