Michael Eather | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Michael Eather SJ Title: Rev First Name: Michael Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Eather Order: SJ Date of Birth: 16-Oct-1936 Place of Birth: Melbourne VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 28-Feb-2012 Place of Death: Bhaktiapur Country of Death: India Date of Burial: Place of Burial: Country of Burial: Find A Grave URL: FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Eather, Michael Missionary, educator; born Melbourne, Victoria, 16 October 1936; died Bhaktiapur, India, 28 February 2012, aged 75. Michael Eather will be remembered fondly in India for the successful technique he developed of teaching spoken English over the years, one that was well adapted to the ability of his students. He was educated at Xavier College, Melbourne, and entered the Society at Watsonia, 1 February 1955. After philosophy studies he was sent to the Hazaribag mission in 1960, a destination he had not ambitioned. Regency was spent in an unusual variety of teaching assignments: St Mary’s, Samtoli, the Teachers’ Training Institute, Sitagarha, and St Xavier’s, Hazaribag. In between he fitted in a year of Hindi study in Manresa House, Ranchi. Theology studies followed at St Mary’s, Kurseong, and he was ordained in March 1967. Eather’s priestly ministry was almost entirely dedicated to teaching. In his years as principal of the Teachers’ Training Institute, he was responsible for the introduction of co-education. During these years he spent a year at the Ateneo de Manila and gained a Master of Arts in education. He was continually dissatisfied with the prevailing teaching techniques, and spent eight years, 1985-1993, in Tundtoli, a small village primary school in Mahuadanr, teaching small children and refining his methods. He believed that he had to find ways to teach the children in such a way that they could overcome their fear and get some self-confidence. These years were among the happiest times of his life. This research led to the publication of a series of popular textbooks for English and mathematics. Eather was principal of St Xavier’s, Hazaribag, 1993-1998, during which time he raised the school up to the +2 level, and introduced intermediate classes in 1995, as well as co-education. In the years that followed he was in demand for courses in spoken English, mainly in houses of formation of Religious Congregations. In speech, manner and deportment, Eather was a very precise man. His courtesy and politeness was part of his success in his frequent contacts with government officialdom during his years at the T.T.I. He made friends wherever he worked. For the last twelve years, he was in the Bhurkunda community. Making friends during his morning walks led him to become one of the founding members of the Bhurkunda Rotary Club. His death was unexpected. He had complained of abdominal pain and was admitted to the Holy Family Hospital, Kodarma. It was revealed that he had a perforated duodenum, and had to be referred to the hospital in Patna, the nearest one that could handle such a case. However, on the way, he died. He was remembered as a humble, soft-spoken, non-judgmental, generous, hard working gentleman, always willing to listen, striving to find the best in people. His joyful spirit, and love and concern for people were a reflection of his deep religious spirit. As well as a large attendance at his funeral obsequies, an interreligious prayer meeting was later held, so much was he held in respect by those who knew him. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Michael

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Eather

Order:

Date of Birth:

16-Oct-1936

Place of Birth:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

28-Feb-2012

Place of Death:

Bhaktiapur

Country of Death:

India

Date of Burial:

Place of Burial:

Country of Burial:

Find A Grave URL:

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Missionary, educator; born Melbourne, Victoria, 16 October 1936; died Bhaktiapur, India, 28 February 2012, aged 75.

Michael Eather will be remembered fondly in India for the successful technique he developed of teaching spoken English over the years, one that was well adapted to the ability of his students. He was educated at Xavier College, Melbourne, and entered the Society at Watsonia, 1 February 1955. After philosophy studies he was sent to the Hazaribag mission in 1960, a destination he had not ambitioned. Regency was spent in an unusual variety of teaching assignments: St Mary’s, Samtoli, the Teachers’ Training Institute, Sitagarha, and St Xavier’s, Hazaribag. In between he fitted in a year of Hindi study in Manresa House, Ranchi. Theology studies followed at St Mary’s, Kurseong, and he was ordained in March 1967.

Eather’s priestly ministry was almost entirely dedicated to teaching. In his years as principal of the Teachers’ Training Institute, he was responsible for the introduction of co-education. During these years he spent a year at the Ateneo de Manila and gained a Master of Arts in education.

He was continually dissatisfied with the prevailing teaching techniques, and spent eight years, 1985-1993, in Tundtoli, a small village primary school in Mahuadanr, teaching small children and refining his methods. He believed that he had to find ways to teach the children in such a way that they could overcome their fear and get some self-confidence. These years were among the happiest times of his life. This research led to the publication of a series of popular textbooks for English and mathematics.

Eather was principal of St Xavier’s, Hazaribag, 1993-1998, during which time he raised the school up to the +2 level, and introduced intermediate classes in 1995, as well as co-education. In the years that followed he was in demand for courses in spoken English, mainly in houses of formation of Religious Congregations.

In speech, manner and deportment, Eather was a very precise man. His courtesy and politeness was part of his success in his frequent contacts with government officialdom during his years at the T.T.I. He made friends wherever he worked. For the last twelve years, he was in the Bhurkunda community. Making friends during his morning walks led him to become one of the founding members of the Bhurkunda Rotary Club.

His death was unexpected. He had complained of abdominal pain and was admitted to the Holy Family Hospital, Kodarma. It was revealed that he had a perforated duodenum, and had to be referred to the hospital in Patna, the nearest one that could handle such a case. However, on the way, he died.

He was remembered as a humble, soft-spoken, non-judgmental, generous, hard working gentleman, always willing to listen, striving to find the best in people. His joyful spirit, and love and concern for people were a reflection of his deep religious spirit. As well as a large attendance at his funeral obsequies, an interreligious prayer meeting was later held, so much was he held in respect by those who knew him.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Michael Eather SJ

Biographical Notes