Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Foreword: "we acknowledge that some of the men in this book are the subject of allegations of abuse. [...] where there has been clear evidence leading us to accept that serious violations are likely to have occurred, we have marked the person’s entry with two asterisks."
Lane, Donal **

Teacher, pastor; born Perth, Western Australia, 1 September 1935; died Sydney, NSW, 9 April 2012, aged 76.

The Loreto nuns at Nedlands educated Lane before he went to St Mary’s, CBC Leederville for two years, followed by the Jesuit school, St Louis, in 1946, where he was a good student and involved with drama, music and debating. He entered the Jesuits in 1953.

Lane found the years of the noviciate, juniorate and philosophy difficult.

After years of enclosure at Watsonia, Lane enjoyed his studies of economics and music for an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, 1963. He was the first Jesuit scholastic to enroll for two years at the Conservatorium of Music, taking singing as an extra study, leading to the A Mus A Diploma.

During his university studies, the Messenger Bookshop was initiated, and Lane helped manage it. This venture was in conjunction with Messenger Publications, a significant Jesuit project at the time.

Regency followed, 1961-62, at Xavier College, Kew, where he taught religion, Latin, French and economics. He was also hall prefect.

During his theological studies at Canisius College, Pymble, 1964-67, he successfully completed a Diploma of Education by external study from the University of New England. From 1967 he published a monthly Liturgical column in the majority of Catholic papers in Australia. This followed the Second Vatican Council’s updating of the liturgy, and he continued these offerings until he left for tertianship in 1970 at St Beuno’s, United Kingdom.

One great disappointment was the province decision to withdraw from St Louis School in 1972. On his annual visits to Perth after that to see his family, he never stayed with the Jesuits as a sign of his disapproval.

Before tertianship, Lane was sent to St Aloysius’ College, Milson’s Point, 1968-69, as sub-minister, teacher, and assistant chaplain, and again, 1971-78, as a teacher of geography, science, Latin, French, and English, as well as having involvement with music and drama. He was also an officer of cadets leading to the position of 2IC with the rank of Major, as well as being chaplain.

In early December 1978 he underwent five months hospitalization and convalescence with varicose vein problems. The remainder of the year was spent in the parish of St Mary’s, North Sydney, but he continued working at St Aloysius’ with the drama and cadets.

Lane moved to St Ignatius’ College, Athelstone, in 1980, where he taught science, English, French, Latin and geography and was involved with drama productions, as well as being form master for Year 8, careers adviser, and pioneer of the use of computers. He also composed a daily prayer book for the students in 1996.

A coronary bypass operation in 1995 interrupted Lane’s teaching commitment; so from 1997-2002, acknowledging the shortage of priests, he was made available by the province for parish placements that included Broken Hill, Coober Pedy, Streaky Bay, Ceduna, Cleve, Ayr, Hilston, Balranald, and Bordertown. It was during this period that he had a pet dog, Josie, as his constant companion, and they travelled everywhere together.

When his health began to deteriorate, Lane became a member of the Provincial Residence community, 2003-05, and then he joined the Canisius College, Pymble, community, 2006-12. For the last year of his life he lived at the diocesan retirement home, St Peter’s, Lane Cove.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)