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

Pastor; born Brisbane, Queensland, 16 February 1921; died Melbourne, 16 June 1997, aged 76.

Philip Astley entered the Society at Loyola College, 15 February 1940, and completed his juniorate and philosophy studies there before regency at Xavier College, Burke Hall, 1948-50. Theology followed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1951-54. He taught English and Latin for a further two years at Burke Hall before tertianship at Sevenhill in 1957.

Astley was not the usual kind of novice. He had no interest in sport and was a fine musician, loved playing the piano and the organ. The music of Bach, and every form of Church music was important to him. As a scholastic he enjoyed studying English literature, but did not find philosophy easy, despite his hard work.

He was an unassuming man, who found teaching religion and English to boys at St Ignatius' College, Adelaide, 1958-61, very painful. He found it hard to control them.

Then he decided to test his love of Church music and liturgy by living with the Benedictines at Ampleforth, England, for a short time. The experiment did not work; it was not the life for him, and he returned to Australia and Loyola College, Watsonia, 1964-69.

So, he experienced another failure. His health broke down and he was hospitalised for some months. Even when discharged, he returned for brief periods. He had lost confidence in himself; he had lost his sense of belonging. From a human point of view, he was a weak human instrument.

Despite this great disability, Astley played the piano for scholastic concerts, operas, and musicals. With this as background, when the community visited Astley in hospital, he began to respond to their affirmations of his worth. One sign of this was that he began to say Mass again. At this stage he left Loyola College, Watsonia, and went to Campion College, 1970-97.

Here he began a ministry to the Carmelite nuns at Kew, said Mass in the city church of St Augustine's monthly, weekly Mass at Kuringa Nursing Home, and did Sunday parish supplies. He said the official Tridentine Mass on occasions and Mass for the Ark, a group that cared for animals. He was at home with the Cistercians at the Tarawarra Abbey, the Focolare community in Kew and the Anglicans at Eastern Hill. He visited a friend with AIDS at Fairfield Hospital and gave him spiritual comfort. He visited Caritas Christi, was a replacement organist at the Sacred Heart Church, Kew, and visited the seafarers at the Stella Maris Club. Finally, he ran a Legion of Mary group. Despite increasing deafness, he was always willing to help others,

By nature he was conservative and classical in his taste for Church music. He had a love of the liturgy and Church architecture. He was artistic and wrote poetry. He was devout at prayer, and rose very early in the morning.

He travelled around Melbourne, usually in trams, in full clericals and hat, visiting the sick and churches.

When he became sick with cancer, he went to the Little Sisters of the Poor at Northcote. He struggled during his final illness, with mood swings and depression. He even asked to leave the Society. However, with the support and comfort of friends, he regained his composure.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)