Andy Zerafa | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Andy Zerafa SJ Title: Rev First Name: Andrew Middle Names: Preferred Name: Andy Surname: Zerafa Order: SJ Date of Birth: 14-Jan-1925 Place of Birth: Cairo Country of Birth: Egypt Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 12-Sep-2003 Place of Death: Adelaide SA Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: Sep - 2003 Place of Burial: West Terrace, Adelaide SA Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158441974 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: Zerafa, Andrew Pastor; born Cairo, Egypt, 14 January 1925; died Adelaide, 12 September 2003, aged 78. Andrew Zerafa was a man of laughter with a genuine sense of fun. He had great pastoral zeal and was a very human and approachable priest. His parishioners experienced and appreciated his warmth, sensitivity, ready availability, honesty, courage, and his capacity to accept and support others. In his liturgies he had the gift of putting people at ease. He was born of Maltese/Italian parents, was a midshipman in the Royal Navy, arrived in Australia in 1948 and, aged 25, entered the Society in 1950 at Loyola, Watsonia. After philosophy, he went to St Louis School, Claremont, WA, 1955-56, for regency, teaching history and geography. Theology was at Canisius College, Pymble, 1957-60, and tertianship, Sevenhill, 1961. For the years 1962-66 he worked at St Ignatius', Richmond, being chaplain to the Italian community, and taught religion in neighbouring schools. In 1967 he began his long association with the Norwood parish, South Australia. Here he cared for the Italians and Maltese families, and participated in the yearly festival of 'San Pellegrino Festa'. He also taught religion in State schools, was chaplain to sodalities, youth groups and the Canterbury Club. Except for 1991-93, when he was assigned as assistant pastor at St Joseph's, Neutral Bay, Sydney, Zerafa worked tirelessly in Norwood. Since his teenage years Zerafa suffered from depression, almost on a daily basis. He had received medical help throughout his adult life, and unless living with him, it was hard to detect. Being aware of his own fragility, he believed that he was able to help others more deeply. However, his great pain was finally too much for him, and he took his life in most tragic circumstances. While deeply saddening all who loved him; people accepted his final act with understanding. Zerafa was a wonderful pastor. He had great love for the Church, his priesthood, his parishioners, and the Society. He warmly welcomed visitors to the community, taking a photo of them to remember their visit. He helped others in word and sacrament and visitation, a wonderful man, a priest of zest and a friend to all. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Andrew

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Andy

Surname:

Zerafa

Order:

Date of Birth:

14-Jan-1925

Place of Birth:

Cairo

Country of Birth:

Egypt

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

12-Sep-2003

Place of Death:

Adelaide SA

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

Sep - 2003

Place of Burial:

West Terrace, Adelaide SA

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158441974

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:
Zerafa, Andrew

Pastor; born Cairo, Egypt, 14 January 1925; died Adelaide, 12 September 2003, aged 78.

Andrew Zerafa was a man of laughter with a genuine sense of fun. He had great pastoral zeal and was a very human and approachable priest. His parishioners experienced and appreciated his warmth, sensitivity, ready availability, honesty, courage, and his capacity to accept and support others. In his liturgies he had the gift of putting people at ease.

He was born of Maltese/Italian parents, was a midshipman in the Royal Navy, arrived in Australia in 1948 and, aged 25, entered the Society in 1950 at Loyola, Watsonia. After philosophy, he went to St Louis School, Claremont, WA, 1955-56, for regency, teaching history and geography. Theology was at Canisius College, Pymble, 1957-60, and tertianship, Sevenhill, 1961.

For the years 1962-66 he worked at St Ignatius', Richmond, being chaplain to the Italian community, and taught religion in neighbouring schools.

In 1967 he began his long association with the Norwood parish, South Australia. Here he cared for the Italians and Maltese families, and participated in the yearly festival of 'San Pellegrino Festa'. He also taught religion in State schools, was chaplain to sodalities, youth groups and the Canterbury Club. Except for 1991-93, when he was assigned as assistant pastor at St Joseph's, Neutral Bay, Sydney, Zerafa worked tirelessly in Norwood.

Since his teenage years Zerafa suffered from depression, almost on a daily basis. He had received medical help throughout his adult life, and unless living with him, it was hard to detect. Being aware of his own fragility, he believed that he was able to help others more deeply. However, his great pain was finally too much for him, and he took his life in most tragic circumstances. While deeply saddening all who loved him; people accepted his final act with understanding.

Zerafa was a wonderful pastor. He had great love for the Church, his priesthood, his parishioners, and the Society. He warmly welcomed visitors to the community, taking a photo of them to remember their visit. He helped others in word and sacrament and visitation, a wonderful man, a priest of zest and a friend to all.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Andy Zerafa SJ

Biographical Notes