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

Writer, teacher, chaplain; born Melbourne, 28 August 1942; died Melbourne, 2 April 2013, aged 70.

In the eulogy at Adrian Lyons’ requiem Mass, Andrew Hamilton spoke of him as a Jesuit ‘at the intersection of faith and culture’, who reflected on ‘the surprising places where they come together in public life’. Hamilton continued to observe that Lyons’ interests ‘came out of a naturally reflective temperament honed by his years as a university chaplain from the late 1970s. His work involved much listening to students as they tried to make sense of their own lives and of the wider world they were entering’. Lyons was a good listener with ‘a ceremonious gentleness of address, did not impose his views, and created the space in conversation that encouraged reflection’.

Lyons entered the Jesuit noviciate in 1961, after his schooling at Kostka Hall and Xavier College, and, having completed philosophy studies, attended the University of Melbourne where he studied arts, 1966-1969, majoring in English. He later completed a Master of Arts degree in modern American fiction during his theology studies at Parkville, 1972-1975. Regency was at St Ignatius’ College, Athelstone, South Australia, 1970-71, where he taught English and Latin, and had great influence on his students.

He thrived in the atmosphere of Aquinas College and the Adelaide University, 1976-82. It was here that Hamilton believed he learnt ‘the importance of a non-adversarial Catholic presence in the public square’, ‘attending to the quiet voices that speak from unexpected places, to what is communicated behind the words, and to places in culture that are open to faith.’ The province recognized these gifts with his appointment as provincial assistant for the university apostolate, 1981-86.

Socius to the provincial followed, 1983-86, a task he completed with his usual grace and charm, as well as quiet efficiency.

Lyons’ interest in the relationship between faith and culture led him to an internship at America magazine in 1987, helping him to explore ways in which Jesuits might become more deeply engaged with the media. The establishment of Eureka Street in 1991 resulted. In the first edition, Hamilton observed that the editors promised that the magazine would attend to ‘the questions behind the questions’. They also hoped that it would reveal ‘Christianity’s continuing vigour and the resources of wisdom it makes available to anyone making important decisions, public or private’, adding that ‘issues that present as primarily religious or churchy always turn out to have counterparts elsewhere’. These thoughts represented Lyons’ abiding interests.

In the first two editions of Eureka Street, Lyons, together with Kate Lindsey, wrote exploratory pieces based on interviews with people who had taken significant steps in their lives. Hamilton noted that they attended ‘to the subtle differences between individuals in the way they make important decisions.’ Patient attention to detail and a habit of weighing things carefully before judging, enabled Lyons to make thought-provoking contributions to the new magazine. But, ‘the role of editing a new, lively monthly magazine proved to demand other qualities. Processes needed to be established, decisions made which would form precedents, criteria for judging contributions established, all with little time for reflection. All this required intuitive gifts and a quick decisiveness that Adrian did not have.’

After the first edition, the editorship was passed to Morag Fraser ‘who gave distinctive shape to its contribution to Australian public life.’

Lyons was hurt by these events, and spent the next years, 1992-93, in Perth, working as a consultant in the Western Australian Catholic Education Office, especially engaging in the preparation of catechetical materials.

Rehabilitated, he was appointed rector of Canisius College, Pymble, 1994-99, and wrote articles for the Jesuit Refugee Service and Uniya. In 2003 Lyons published the book Imagine Believing, which was the outcome of his reflections on questions of belief and unbelief, and research as visiting fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center, Washington DC, in 2000.

Pastoral work as consultant to tertiary chaplains in the Sydney Archdiocese, chaplain to St Vincent’s College, Potts Point, and parish priest in rural Sevenhill followed until 2005. He was province tertian instructor, 2006-11. His tertians from all over the world benefited greatly from his wisdom, warmth, kindness and concern. Between tertianships, Lyons assisted the provincial drafting and revision documents, and acting as socius when the occasion required.

From December 2010 Lyons contracted an illness that he initially took lightly, with the symptom of pain in his arm. However, on 18 August 2011 he was admitted to Dalcross Adventis Hospital for surgery. There was no improvement in his condition. Further X-Rays and CT Scans, confirmed diagnoses CA lung and secondary at right shoulder blade. This was a depression time for him, as he was also rector of Canisius House and in the transition of handing over the centre to lay management. He was also overseeing the extension building of Arrupe House. As his condition deteriorated, he moved to Melbourne to be near his family. Further treatment followed, including trialing a new drug that may help prevent further growth of certain cancer types, and so increase the lifespan of people with this type of cancer. He agreed to take part in this research in order to better understand lung cancer, and so help others.

Even during the challenges of coping with a terminal illness, Lyons published two books that were launched shortly before his death, The First Thing to Do is Live: Essays Sacred and Secular, and Sunday Soundings: Sermons from a Jesuit’s ministry. In review, Hamilton wrote that the essays bring together Lyons’ thoughts on the relationship between faith and culture. They were fragments ‘pushing against large theories, firm boundaries and a self-contained Church. He encourages people to explore the reality of the world and of Christian faith, without adopting a take it or leave it approach’. The style of the essays was conversational and the subject matter broad. Lyons ‘attends to the reality of the world in which we live and brings Christian insights to bare’. The book of sermons alerted his readers to the times and the experience of his listeners. In his preaching, Lyons communicated his reflections on the truth of the Gospels in a fresh, engaging, conversational style, in a cool and reasonable tone.

Sister Marina, a close colleague and friend for some years was a great support to Lyons, and to his mother years before in her final illness, described him as ‘kind, compassionate with a big loving heart. He was quiet, gentle, warm, spiritual and with a good sense of humour.’ He was generous with his time and often went out of his way to help people who were needy or vulnerable. ‘He had the gift to make each person feel as if he/she was the most important person’, giving them his full attention. With such a personality, it is understandable that he tried to avoid confrontation. Conflicts upset him and made him sad. Overall, Lyons was praised for his integrity, courage, compassion and enduring faith, and for being a great encourager of others, who remained remarkably self-possessed as he approached death. His serenity was inspiring.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)