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

Educator; born Dunkitt, Co Waterford, Ireland, 16 March 1896; died Melbourne, 5 May 1990, aged 94.

Patrick Stephenson was educated at Clongowes College, Dublin, and entered the Society, 31 August 1914. After philosophy studies at Milltown Park, 1918-21, he was sent to Xavier College for regency in 1921, returned to England and France for theology in 1925, and was ordained at Lyons in 1928. Tertianship followed immediately at Paray-le-Monial.

He returned to Xavier College in 1930, and remained there for the rest of his life, except for a year as headmaster of Kostka Hall. For a few years, 1933-34, he was minister at the senior school.

Stephenson is best known for his teaching of geography or 'townography', as his subject was irreverently called. Students started the rumour that he dropped the exam papers from just outside his room on the top floor above second-division, and the first paper to hit the floor was awarded first place. He also taught religion and French at various times.

His sermonettes on the missions on first Fridays were memorable as was his love for St Vincent de Paul. He ran a monthly meeting of this Society for 60 years, encouraging members to visit the sick and the poor. In addition, he edited the college annual, The Xaverian, for 47 years, and recorded news of generations of Old Boys. This was particularly important during the Second World War, when he became the 'postbox and scribe to the world'. He would write to Old Boys on active service and their families each evening (his daily letter writing average was twelve), bringing much comfort to the men. Many letters that he received from the war were included in The Xaverian for all to read.

Stephenson was a great affirmer of people. His memory was prodigious of whole families for many generations, and he kept a card index system with the names of every boy and his family. He was particularly caring for families in trouble, and good at obtaining jobs for ex-students through his long list of contacts.

During school vacations he visited major towns, country or interstate, catching up with Old Xaverians. He never stayed long, suggesting that he should go home about 9 p.m. He was always very proud of Old Xaverians who did well, especially those who became judges, lawyers and doctors.

He grew old buoyantly. At the age of 80 he moved from his room in the attic to a room on the ground floor near the infirmary. At the age of 92, when he could no longer look after himself or handle the stairs, he moved to Caritas Christi, the hospice for the elderly. The move gave him a new life, exercising his legs as best he could and ringing up Old Boys from Sister Wallbridge's office when she was otherwise engaged.

He was a small man, but had a large heart and was open to change. He accepted Vatican II and began to wear a tie instead of the clerical collar soon after the Council.

Stephenson was never a good teacher, but was a memorable educator. For his services to education he was awarded an Order of the British Empire by the Queen. He had extraordinary influence on generations of Old Xaverians. His gentle humanity and love of people more than compensated for his lack of academic achievements. He was good company and his stories always enlivened community recreation. His funeral, which packed St Patrick's Cathedral, was a moving tribute to his influence.

In 2016 Xavier College removed Stephenson's name from its sports centre. The rector wrote to the Xavier community that there were some complaints against Stephenson, and that 'the Province does not believe that the complaints made against Stephenson have been substantiated, but nor has it dismissed the allegations as being wrong. It believed that, on the available evidence there is room for genuine misunderstanding as to his intentions, as is explicitly acknowledged by one complainant…', and that in the light of the complexity and seriousness of the issue, 'we accept that it is appropriate to change the name' of the sports centre.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)