John Rush | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev John Rush SJ Title: Rev First Name: John Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Rush Order: SJ Date of Birth: 01-Jul-1932 Place of Birth: South Melbourne VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 17-Aug-1971 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 19-Aug-1971 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208249265 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Rush, John Teacher, missionary; born South Melbourne, Victoria, 1 July 1932; died Melbourne, 17 August 1971, aged 39. John Rush was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1940-50, and entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1951. He completed his juniorate and philosophy there before going to India in 1956. His regency was at St Xavier's College, Hazaribag, and St Joseph's School, Mahuadanr, 1957-59, teaching English, science, mathematics, manual arts, and ethics. At the same time he studied Hindi. He was also a catechist and assistant prefect of discipline. He prepared for a university degree, obtaining a BA in history and political science at the Ranchi University, Bihar, in 1962. Theology studies followed at St Mary's, Kurseong, where he was ordained in 1965. Studies did not come easily to Rush, but he was always bright and cheerful, and would frequently entertain, both on the concert stage and off it, with his clever impersonations and mimicry. He was sent to Mahuadanr, as assistant priest, 1967, but he found the heavy workload there of touring villages, endless confessions and catechism very tiring. He had a few rests in hospital, but further tests indicated that he should return to Australia. He taught at Xavier College, Kew, 1969-71, and was hall prefect. He finally died of cancer at the Peter McCallum clinic in Melbourne. Rush had loved his work in India, but he suffered a great deal: his quiet way was sometimes misunderstood as lack of interest. His refinement, and methodical way of working, meant that he found a lack of cleanliness and order hard. The long period of studies was frustrating for one who had realised that so much was waiting for him to do. Yet his whole time in India was characterised by a great sense of duty. He had a lively strain of humour that was discovered only when the barrier of shyness had been broken. He had been a valued Australian missionary. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

John

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Rush

Order:

Date of Birth:

01-Jul-1932

Place of Birth:

South Melbourne VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

17-Aug-1971

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

19-Aug-1971

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208249265

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher, missionary; born South Melbourne, Victoria, 1 July 1932; died Melbourne, 17 August 1971, aged 39.

John Rush was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1940-50, and entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1951. He completed his juniorate and philosophy there before going to India in 1956. His regency was at St Xavier's College, Hazaribag, and St Joseph's School, Mahuadanr, 1957-59, teaching English, science, mathematics, manual arts, and ethics. At the same time he studied Hindi. He was also a catechist and assistant prefect of discipline.

He prepared for a university degree, obtaining a BA in history and political science at the Ranchi University, Bihar, in 1962. Theology studies followed at St Mary's, Kurseong, where he was ordained in 1965. Studies did not come easily to Rush, but he was always bright and cheerful, and would frequently entertain, both on the concert stage and off it, with his clever impersonations and mimicry.

He was sent to Mahuadanr, as assistant priest, 1967, but he found the heavy workload there of touring villages, endless confessions and catechism very tiring. He had a few rests in hospital, but further tests indicated that he should return to Australia. He taught at Xavier College, Kew, 1969-71, and was hall prefect. He finally died of cancer at the Peter McCallum clinic in Melbourne.

Rush had loved his work in India, but he suffered a great deal: his quiet way was sometimes misunderstood as lack of interest. His refinement, and methodical way of working, meant that he found a lack of cleanliness and order hard. The long period of studies was frustrating for one who had realised that so much was waiting for him to do. Yet his whole time in India was characterised by a great sense of duty. He had a lively strain of humour that was discovered only when the barrier of shyness had been broken. He had been a valued Australian missionary.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev John Rush SJ

Biographical Notes