Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017, post-publication supplement:
Harte, John Kevin Kingston

Musician, pastoral worker, university chaplain; born Melbourne, 4 October 1931; died Melbourne, 7 June 2023, aged 91.

John Harte is well remembered as an outstanding musician, a craftsman of the biblical Word, and a man with passionate concern for justice for the disaffected, needy, and marginalised people in society.

He received his secondary education from the Christian Brothers at CBC St Kilda and St Kevin's College, Toorak, before advancing to The University of Melbourne where he studied music, 1948-51, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree. He entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1952, with sixteen other novices. He completed all his Jesuit studies in Australia, and was ordained, 2 January 1964. Regency was at St Louis School, Claremont WA, 1958-60, teaching, prefecting and directing the school choir.

During his years at Loyola, Harte was the choir master, and his professionalism in raising the singing standard of the scholastics was exceptional. Harte was a perfectionist, and nothing but the best was expected. He was a man of conviction, believing that anyone could sing, even one note. Recordings were made of some performances. He covered traditional liturgical repertoire and introduced Gelineau's psalm settings and his own hymn compositions, most notably his four-part setting All power is given to me (Matt. 28,18-20), which was used to farewell young missionaries to India for many years. This involvement in supporting the Australian Indian mission was important to him.

Before tertianship in Germany, September 1965-May 1966, Harte lectured in liturgy and modern church history at the Holy Name Seminary in New Zealand. Superiors thought that he might consider doing post graduate studies in liturgy, but Harte declined the offer.

After tertianship he returned to Perth, Western Australia, as chaplain to the University of Western Australia, 1967-73. Here he was appreciated for his advocacy for Australian First Nations people, social justice issues, environmental sustainability, supporting the anti-Vietnam war campaign (he was vice-chairman of the Perth Vietnam Moratorium Committee), the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and for supported anti-nuclear groups, sometimes with the disapproval of ecclesiastical authority. During university holidays he took students to India to give them a greater sense of poverty in the world, and especially to experience the poverty of his friend Fr Ian Travis-Ball, who left the Jesuits to found the Missionaries of Charity Brothers, a male branch of Mother Teresa's order. With the Newman under-graduate students, he held a weekly Mass in the chaplaincy, as well as a graduate/staff Mass on Sunday evenings. This latter formed the basis of a future apostolate with what was called the Ecclesia community. Lifelong friendships were formed from this time.

His friends recall him having genuine interest and concern for them. He strengthened the community by his presence and deep spirituality and always without judgment. He presented a Church that resided in the community rather than in a building that would stand up to be counted against the injustices on First Nations Peoples or unjust wars or crippling poverty.

Harte also keep contact with the Department of Music, and partnered Graham Wood, violinist with the West Australian Sympathy Orchestra in recitals. He performed in concert halls, and retirement homes and some of his performances were broadcast on ABC radio. He was also a music examiner within the Department.

It was during this time that a generous benefactor, Sir Thomas Wardle (1912-1997), sponsored the salary of the three chaplains to the university. He was a businessman, known locally as 'Tom the Cheap', for his string of supermarkets and revolutionary shopping in the State. As a very wealthy man, he was much appreciated for his philanthropy in Perth. The Department of Music at UWA was the recipient of his generosity between 1966 and 1974, to assist young composers. In gratitude for his generosity to the university, in 1973 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Law, and later was a foundation senator at Murdoch University. Wardle was also Lord Mayor of Perth, 1967-72

Other activities undertaken by Harte while in Perth was with the religious of the diocese. He mentored Sister Patrice, as she led a group of sisters away from the main body of the Good Shephard Sisters. Harte had two aunts who were members of this religious order who were involved with service to the poor. He also ministered to the Loreto Sisters and formed a collaborative relationship with the academic Sister Veronica Brady in support of the Australian aborigines in the north of Western Australia. The Christian Brothers also received his attention and support as they faced allegations of sexual abuse.

The Sisters of Mercy were also recipients of Harte's generosity. He would visit and anoint sisters who were ill in convents around Subiaco/Wembley area and would often celebrate a Mass with the small community after a death. He also visited the Mercy hospital, St Anne's, Mt Lawley, always available to anoint or visit very ill patients who requested a priest.

Harte's passion for a cause was not always equally shared by his Jesuit community resulting in strained relations, which resulted in feelings of alienation.

In 1974 Harte undertook New Testament studies at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, influenced by the theology of Eduard Schweizer (1913-2006). Schweizer was a student of Bultmann and Barth and was a professor of New Testament at the University of Zurich (1941-1946). His book, 'The Gospel of Mark' especially influenced Harte for its sharp edges.

The following year he was appointed socius to the master of novices at Canisius College, Pymble. But, while influencing his novices in matters of social justice, his landscape was too small to exercise his wider vision for involvement in social issues.

Parish ministry followed, first at Redfern, 1976, with Fr Ted Kennedy and at Richmond, 1977. At Redfern, he was attacked by an aboriginal which unnerved him for some time. The Richmond experiment in a house at Stephenson Street was a ministry too narrow for Harte. Again, he needed a wider canvas for his vision for fighting against injustice in all its forms.

In relationships, the vulnerable and needy readily elicited Harte's attention and compassion. He served them faithfully for as long as he was wanted.

He returned to Perth, living at Southwell House 1978-88, working as a prison chaplain, and resumed his passion for supporting a group of disaffected friends, many of whom he had first met when university chaplain. He said weekly Mass in the St Louis Chapel until it was demolished, then the community moved to Loreto Nedlands. He was remembered for his commitment and perseverance, as well as for his lessons in scripture that grounded his liturgies.

The following two years, 1989-90, Harte was chaplain to RMIT, living in Matthew Egan House, Park Drive.

Then he returned to Perth, 1991-2013, working as a prisons' chaplain, and mental health chaplain at Bentley from 2005. He was also involved with the Catholic Gay association, 'Acceptance'.

Possibly influenced by his mother's work in Melbourne as a volunteer for the Australian Jesuit Mission in India, Harte would regularly give piano recitals at fund raising events in Perth for the mission. These were the highlight of the occasions.

His final place of residence was Campion College, Kew, June 2013-2023, engaged in pastoral ministry with Jesuit Social Services at Brosnan and Perry Houses as a volunteer in the Language for Life programme, 2019-2022. He was also faithful for Masses at the nearby Carmel Monastery, Kew, and for aged care residents at Abbotsford. He died suddenly from a stroke at St Vincent's Public Hospital, East Melbourne, never regaining consciousness.

He was a talented yet reserved, intense, frugal man of strong faith, with strong convictions and radical commitment, passionate about caring for creation and following the poor Jesus to the margins of society, ministering to the hurt and broken people he found. In serving the poor and needy for a lifetime, Harte himself took on the demeanour of the crucified himself.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)