Rev Lewis Cardiff
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Lewis
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Cardiff
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Richmond VIC
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Dublin
Country of Ordination:
Ireland
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Melbourne VIC
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Boroondara, Kew VIC
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Cardiff, Lewis
Pastor and mission director; born Richmond, Victoria, 13 January 1911; died Melbourne, 3 June 1988, aged 77.
Lewis Cardiff grew up in Richmond and attended St Ignatius' School, Richmond, and St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, from which he obtained his Leaving Certificate in 1926 with honours in Latin. He worked for a year as a clerk in the Victorian Railways before applying for admission to the Society of Jesus, which he entered at Loyola, Greenwich, 10 February 1928.
After vows he went to Dublin where he obtained a BSc degree in mathematics and physics. Philosophy at Valkenburg, Holland, followed. His regency was at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, teaching science. Then he returned to Ireland for his theology, being ordained in Dublin, 13 May 1942.
Upon his return to Australia in Easter 1945 he taught at Xavier College, and then moved to St Patrick's College, 1946-8. He did not think much of his teaching qualities, but his students remembered his kind and gentle manner. He was believed to explain mathematics well. He was too much of a gentleman to be a successful teacher!
From 1949-1957 he was director of the retreat house and minister at Loyola College, Watsonia. It was a large community at the time, and he was much in demand. From there he went as parish priest to Toowong, Brisbane, 1958-65. He cared for his people well, and acquired the land for the new Church at Auchenflower. He also began to be associated with work for supporting the Jesuit Mission in India.
He was parish priest of Sevenhill and Clare from 1966-75, where he showed great devotion to his people, especially to the sick and aged.
In 1976, aged 65, he returned to Melbourne to look after the work of promoting the Jesuit Mission in India. He saw his role being a support to the co-missionaries. He would say that they did all the work. He was always writing letters of thanks to generous benefactors. People appreciated his spontaneity, his ready wit and humour, and his down-to-earth advice, both spiritual and human.
He showed great warmth and humanity, despite some jerkiness and shyness in manner. He was a most faithful priest. Cardiff's life and energy flowed from a loving, affectionate heart and a deep spirituality.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)