Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017, post-publication supplement:
Howells, Ian

Academic, mathematician, administrator, pastor; born Melbourne, 14 February 1931; died Brisbane, Queensland, 23 April 2022, aged 91.

Ian David Howells was educated at Xavier College, Kew, 1943-48, and proceeded to The University of Melbourne, where he graduated Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1953, and Bachelor of Arts Honours in mathematics in 1955. He was further awarded the Doctor of Philosophy in Applied mathematics from Cambridge University in 1959 on The Scattering of Waves by Turbulence. He came from a very intellectual family, the most famous being his uncle, Sir John Eccles, a Noble Prize winner and an Australian of the Year.

Howells joined the Jesuits at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1960, studying philosophy there, 1962-64. Theology studies followed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1965-68, and he was ordained by Archbishop James Knox at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, 9 December 1967. He was then assigned to Newman College, Parkville, and given the post of lecturer in mathematics at The University of Melbourne, 1969-71. In 1972 he moved to England, doing tertianship at St Beuno's, Wales, with director Father Paul Kennedy, and afterwards further studies in mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge. He spent 1973 studying spiritual theology in Rome.

From 1974-82, Howells was appointed to Aquinas College, Adelaide, where he was chaplain to the students and rector, as well as tutor in mathematics at Adelaide University. His next appointment was to St Leo's, Brisbane, and the University of Queensland, 1990-2003, where he was university chaplain, and continued research in mathematics. He continued this work from the parish of Toowong, 2004-2014, and when his health began to decline with dementia in 2016, he moved to St John's Aged Care Home, West Toowong, finally dying peacefully with Covid-19. At the university, he was respected for 'that rare combination of humility, simplicity, generosity, deep intellect, and a ready willingness to approach people and to be approached by them' according to Sister Kathleen Muirhead RSCJ, a close friend.

In his report to Rome, Father Christopher Horvat reflected that Howells was in some ways the embodiment of the Jesuit academic. Coming from a highly academic family, he was dux of Xavier college and the top student in the State in 1948. Despite his brilliance, Howells wore his learning lightly, and was modest in the extreme. A very spiritual, introverted, gentle person, he would, however, always be welcoming and loved jokes. He had a fine baritone voice, loved to sing and enjoyed music. He conducted the choir at Loyola College, Watsonia, for the five years of his formation.

Howells combination of intellectual brilliance and strong faith was salutary for his university colleagues, while his pastoral commitments also included being chaplain of the St Luke's Guild in Adelaide and director of the St Vincent de Paul's conference in Brisbane.

In 1989-90 Howells was engaged in a very comprehensive study of Faith in Australia, which he compiled with two other Jesuits at the behest of the provincial, Fr Peter Steele SJ. The result was a two-volume workbook for community, personal and pastoral use by Australian Jesuits and their co-workers.

On the occasion of his golden jubilee as a priest in 2017, the General, Fr Adolfo Nicolas wrote that Howells 'made use of gifts of mind and heart. You have inspired many to see God in all things created and Christ as a goal. You have lived on the frontiers of expanding human knowledge, bringing a Christian perspective. You have helped many, particularly students, to share this vision. At the same time, you have remained always a pastorally-minded priest, helping those who came to you and with common sufferings of life. In Jesuit communities you have been a very generous and cheerful companion'.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)