William Gwynn | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev William Gwynn SJ Title: Rev First Name: William Middle Names: P. Preferred Name: Surname: Gwynn Order: SJ Date of Birth: 17-Mar-1865 Place of Birth: Youghal, Co Cork Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 22-Oct-1950 Place of Death: Dublin Country of Death: Ireland Date of Burial: Place of Burial: Country of Burial: Find A Grave URL: FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Gwynn, William Teacher, pastor, retreat giver; born Youghal, Co Cork, 17 March 1865; died Dublin, 22 October 1950, aged 85. William Gwynn's father was a military man and had been transferred to Galway by the time that William and his younger brother John (who also entered the Society) were ready for their schooling. Both boys were educated at St Ignatius' College, Galway. Gwynn entered the Society at Milltown Park, 20 October 1883, and studied rhetoric as a junior up to II Arts at the Royal University while living at Milltown Park, 1885-87. Philosophy was at Louvain and Exaeten, 1887-90, and regency at Belvedere, Clongowes, and Mungret, 1890-97. Theology followed at Milltown Park, 1897-1901. After tertianship at Linz, Austria, 1901-02, with his brother John, Gwynn was sent to Australia where he taught at Riverview, St Aloysius' College and St Patrick's College, 1902-11, before engaging in parish ministry at Sevenhill, 1911-13, and Norwood, 1913-17. He taught a further few years at St Patrick's College, 1917-18, before becoming a military chaplain of the 8th Infantry Brigade AIF, 1918-20, travelling to Egypt, France and Germany. Gwynn returned to Ireland after the war and taught philosophy and mathematics at Mungret. He was later in charge of the People's Church at Clongowes until 1930, and then performed rural missionary work, giving retreats with great vigour and success throughout the country, a ministry he enjoyed while in Australia. In 1930 he was transferred to parish work at Gardiner Street until 1944. In earlier years here he was in charge of the Night Workers' Sodality. For the last six years of his life he was attached to Milltown Park, living in great cheer and contentment, praying for the Society. The Irish Province News, January 1951, described Gwynn as an original character. In whatever company he found himself, he became the centre of interest by his wit and personality. He was extraordinarily outspoken and frank in his remarks about others and himself. He never made any secret about his own plans and projects. At first sight, he might be seen as egotistical or cynical, or a man who had shed may of the kindly illusions about human nature. But much of that frankness was part of his sense of humour and a pose; it helped to make him interesting and to amuse. He was not a man to give his best in ordinary, every day work. He wanted change and variety; he liked to plough a lonely furrow: a man of original mind, who had his own very personal way of looking at people and things. He had all the gifts of a preacher: appearance, voice, personality, an original approach to any subject, and a gift for a striking, arresting phrase. His retreats were memorable for their freshness and originality. As a confessor some respected him for being broad, sympathetic and understanding. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

William

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Gwynn

Order:

Date of Birth:

17-Mar-1865

Place of Birth:

Youghal, Co Cork

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

22-Oct-1950

Place of Death:

Dublin

Country of Death:

Ireland

Date of Burial:

Place of Burial:

Country of Burial:

Find A Grave URL:

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher, pastor, retreat giver; born Youghal, Co Cork, 17 March 1865; died Dublin, 22 October 1950, aged 85.

William Gwynn's father was a military man and had been transferred to Galway by the time that William and his younger brother John (who also entered the Society) were ready for their schooling. Both boys were educated at St Ignatius' College, Galway. Gwynn entered the Society at Milltown Park, 20 October 1883, and studied rhetoric as a junior up to II Arts at the Royal University while living at Milltown Park, 1885-87. Philosophy was at Louvain and Exaeten, 1887-90, and regency at Belvedere, Clongowes, and Mungret, 1890-97. Theology followed at Milltown Park, 1897-1901.

After tertianship at Linz, Austria, 1901-02, with his brother John, Gwynn was sent to Australia where he taught at Riverview, St Aloysius' College and St Patrick's College, 1902-11, before engaging in parish ministry at Sevenhill, 1911-13, and Norwood, 1913-17. He taught a further few years at St Patrick's College, 1917-18, before becoming a military chaplain of the 8th Infantry Brigade AIF, 1918-20, travelling to Egypt, France and Germany.

Gwynn returned to Ireland after the war and taught philosophy and mathematics at Mungret. He was later in charge of the People's Church at Clongowes until 1930, and then performed rural missionary work, giving retreats with great vigour and success throughout the country, a ministry he enjoyed while in Australia.

In 1930 he was transferred to parish work at Gardiner Street until 1944. In earlier years here he was in charge of the Night Workers' Sodality.

For the last six years of his life he was attached to Milltown Park, living in great cheer and contentment, praying for the Society.

The Irish Province News, January 1951, described Gwynn as an original character. In whatever company he found himself, he became the centre of interest by his wit and personality. He was extraordinarily outspoken and frank in his remarks about others and himself. He never made any secret about his own plans and projects. At first sight, he might be seen as egotistical or cynical, or a man who had shed may of the kindly illusions about human nature. But much of that frankness was part of his sense of humour and a pose; it helped to make him interesting and to amuse.

He was not a man to give his best in ordinary, every day work. He wanted change and variety; he liked to plough a lonely furrow: a man of original mind, who had his own very personal way of looking at people and things. He had all the gifts of a preacher: appearance, voice, personality, an original approach to any subject, and a gift for a striking, arresting phrase. His retreats were memorable for their freshness and originality. As a confessor some respected him for being broad, sympathetic and understanding.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev William Gwynn SJ

Biographical Notes