Thomas Fleming | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Thomas Fleming SJ Title: Rev First Name: Thomas Middle Names: Vincent Preferred Name: Surname: Fleming Order: SJ Date of Birth: 29-Mar-1897 Place of Birth: Dublin Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: 1928 Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 05-Mar-1988 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1988 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466099 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Not listed in A Prayer-Calendar of Deceased Priests & Deacons in Australia 1788-2009, compiled by W.T. Southerwood, Sixth Edition, 2009. --- Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Fleming, Thomas Theologian, writer, pastor; born Dublin, Ireland, 29 March 1897; died Hawthorn, Melbourne, 5 March 1988, aged 90. Thomas Fleming was educated at Clongowes Wood College, 1911-14, and entered the Society at Tullamore, 31 August 1914. He was successful at mathematical and physics studies at the University of Dublin, gaining an honours Bachelor of Science degree, 1917-20. He studied philosophy at Louvain and theology in Dublin, 1926-29, and regency was at Riverview and Xavier College, 1922-26, teaching mathematics, Latin and Greek. He was also second division prefect at Xavier. Tertianship was at St Beuno’s College, Wales, 1930-31. After ordination in 1928 he volunteered for the Irish Jesuit Mission in Hong Kong, 1931-37, and, after language study at Shiu-hing, taught mathematics at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, and theology in the diocesan seminary. He was professed of the four vows, 2 February 1932. Unfortunately, his health broke down and he went back to Ireland shortly before the Second World War, teaching ontology and anthropology for eight years to Jesuit scholastics at Tullamore, 1937-46. After the war he returned to Australia, and for six years taught chemistry mathematics and religion at Riverview, 1946-51, where he wrote the book, Faith and Morals. From there he moved to the theologate at Pymble where he taught theology for 15 years, 1952-67. He paid one visit back to Ireland in 1968, and then began parish work at Hawthorn, 1969-85. During his years teaching theology he showed much energy in the meticulous preparation of whatever he did, classes, lectures, sermons, retreats, administration of sacraments. He had a quick mind; but wasn't very interested in exploring ideas deeply: he wanted to know what could be said for and against a position. He was good at explaining the subjects he lectured on - clear and logical. It was the same with his book of apologetics. Once he took up a position on any open question, nothing could move him. He was awarded a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in 1961 because of his studies in 1930. He argued with people in the Domain in Sydney from the platform of the Catholic Evidence Guild. For years he spent Sunday afternoons in the Domain: he liked to show the truth of his faith to those who didn't share it. He relished the argument and was hard hitting. He was quite different doing pastoral work in the Hawthorn parish, 1969-85. He was sympathetic and kind and shrewd as a spiritual director and his pawky sense of humour helped to make him a popular retreat giver. From the time he was a young man he was set in his ways of doing things, so that he was not enthusiastic for many of the changes in externals that followed the Second Vatican Council. More at ease with older than younger people, he administered the sacraments to them, and seemed to enjoy the pastoral ministry. He was most faithful to visitations. Being a man who liked work, he did not appreciate waiting for anything. Fleming was intensely conscious of being Irish and he kept all through his life an idealised image of the Irish character - its religious, intellectual and moral superiority over all other peoples - and there was something very engaging about the way he combined this high notion of the Irish in general with quite realistic estimates of Irish individuals, clergy or laity. He was a keen golfer: not patient enough to be really expert, but he loved the game. Football was an interest that Hawthorn revived; his interest had waned since his early days as a scholastic at Xavier College in the 1920s. Fleming gave himself thoroughly to the people among whom he was sent. His vigour and his energy came from his own sense of vocation of being commissioned by God through His Church to teach and defend the faith, and bring its comforts and benefits to as many as possible. His remaining years was spent at McQuoin Park, Mercy Family Life Centre, Hornsby, NSW, 1986-88, but he actually died in Hawthorn during a brief visit. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Names:

Vincent

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Fleming

Order:

Date of Birth:

29-Mar-1897

Place of Birth:

Dublin

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

1928

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

05-Mar-1988

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1988

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466099

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Not listed in A Prayer-Calendar of Deceased Priests & Deacons in Australia 1788-2009, compiled by W.T. Southerwood, Sixth Edition, 2009.

---

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

Theologian, writer, pastor; born Dublin, Ireland, 29 March 1897; died Hawthorn, Melbourne, 5 March 1988, aged 90.

Thomas Fleming was educated at Clongowes Wood College, 1911-14, and entered the Society at Tullamore, 31 August 1914. He was successful at mathematical and physics studies at the University of Dublin, gaining an honours Bachelor of Science degree, 1917-20. He studied philosophy at Louvain and theology in Dublin, 1926-29, and regency was at Riverview and Xavier College, 1922-26, teaching mathematics, Latin and Greek. He was also second division prefect at Xavier. Tertianship was at St Beuno’s College, Wales, 1930-31.

After ordination in 1928 he volunteered for the Irish Jesuit Mission in Hong Kong, 1931-37, and, after language study at Shiu-hing, taught mathematics at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, and theology in the diocesan seminary. He was professed of the four vows, 2 February 1932.

Unfortunately, his health broke down and he went back to Ireland shortly before the Second World War, teaching ontology and anthropology for eight years to Jesuit scholastics at Tullamore, 1937-46. After the war he returned to Australia, and for six years taught chemistry mathematics and religion at Riverview, 1946-51, where he wrote the book, Faith and Morals. From there he moved to the theologate at Pymble where he taught theology for 15 years, 1952-67. He paid one visit back to Ireland in 1968, and then began parish work at Hawthorn, 1969-85.

During his years teaching theology he showed much energy in the meticulous preparation of whatever he did, classes, lectures, sermons, retreats, administration of sacraments. He had a quick mind; but wasn't very interested in exploring ideas deeply: he wanted to know what could be said for and against a position. He was good at explaining the subjects he lectured on - clear and logical. It was the same with his book of apologetics. Once he took up a position on any open question, nothing could move him. He was awarded a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in 1961 because of his studies in 1930.

He argued with people in the Domain in Sydney from the platform of the Catholic Evidence Guild. For years he spent Sunday afternoons in the Domain: he liked to show the truth of his faith to those who didn't share it. He relished the argument and was hard hitting.

He was quite different doing pastoral work in the Hawthorn parish, 1969-85. He was sympathetic and kind and shrewd as a spiritual director and his pawky sense of humour helped to make him a popular retreat giver. From the time he was a young man he was set in his ways of doing things, so that he was not enthusiastic for many of the changes in externals that followed the Second Vatican Council.

More at ease with older than younger people, he administered the sacraments to them, and seemed to enjoy the pastoral ministry. He was most faithful to visitations. Being a man who liked work, he did not appreciate waiting for anything.

Fleming was intensely conscious of being Irish and he kept all through his life an idealised image of the Irish character - its religious, intellectual and moral superiority over all other peoples - and there was something very engaging about the way he combined this high notion of the Irish in general with quite realistic estimates of Irish individuals, clergy or laity.

He was a keen golfer: not patient enough to be really expert, but he loved the game. Football was an interest that Hawthorn revived; his interest had waned since his early days as a scholastic at Xavier College in the 1920s.

Fleming gave himself thoroughly to the people among whom he was sent. His vigour and his energy came from his own sense of vocation of being commissioned by God through His Church to teach and defend the faith, and bring its comforts and benefits to as many as possible.

His remaining years was spent at McQuoin Park, Mercy Family Life Centre, Hornsby, NSW, 1986-88, but he actually died in Hawthorn during a brief visit.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Thomas Fleming SJ

Biographical Notes