Leslie Harper | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Leslie Harper SJ Title: Rev First Name: Leslie Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Harper Order: SJ Date of Birth: 26-Sep-1906 Place of Birth: Paddington, Sydney NSW Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 20-Mar-1969 Place of Death: Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1969 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300523969 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Harper, Leslie Pastor; born Paddington, Sydney, 26 September 1906; died Sydney, 20 March 1969, aged 62. Leslie Harper had only an elementary education, his family conducting a lucrative butchery. However, he went back to school, at St Aloysius' College and Riverview, to gain sufficient education to enter the Society. He worked for some time as a photographer's assistant. He passed the NSW Intermediate examination in 1928 at the age of 22. He entered the noviciate at Loyola College, Greenwich, 18 February 1929, and went overseas for his studies, to Rathfarnham as a junior, Tullamore, Jersey and Heythrop for philosophy, 1933-35, and returned to Australia for regency, at Xavier College, 1935-36 and 1939, and at Burke Hall, 1937-38. Theology studies followed at Milltown Park and tertianship at Rathfarnham, 1939-44. He worked in the English parish of Preston for a year before he returned to Australia and the parish of Richmond in 1945. He was made superior and parish priest of Toowong, Queensland, 1949-57, and then held a similar position in the parish of Richmond in the Melbourne archdiocese, 1957-64. He was a good parish priest; very paternal, kind and generous, well organised and enjoyed the authority and dignity of the position. While at Richmond he organised the building of the spire on the church. He became unwell from heart disease, and joined the university scholastics at Campion College, Kew, as minister and assistant to the province bursar. He was much appreciated for his kindness and understanding and very positive in giving permissions, with the phrase, 'Oh, why not!' This attitude was in direct contrast to the rector who was more likely to deny requests. As his health deteriorated, he went to the parish of Lavender Bay, North Sydney, in 1968, when he died finally of a heart attack. He was not an intellectual, and always struggled with his Jesuit studies, but he was gifted in human relations. He loved being with Jesuits and was enjoyable company in recreation. He was most hospitable, and keenly felt any separation from his fellow Jesuits, especially when at Toowong. His cheerfulness and encouragement of others was much appreciated. He showed the zeal of a true pastor, knowing his people well, especially at Richmond. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Leslie

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Harper

Order:

Date of Birth:

26-Sep-1906

Place of Birth:

Paddington, Sydney NSW

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

20-Mar-1969

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1969

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300523969

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Pastor; born Paddington, Sydney, 26 September 1906; died Sydney, 20 March 1969, aged 62.

Leslie Harper had only an elementary education, his family conducting a lucrative butchery. However, he went back to school, at St Aloysius' College and Riverview, to gain sufficient education to enter the Society. He worked for some time as a photographer's assistant. He passed the NSW Intermediate examination in 1928 at the age of 22.

He entered the noviciate at Loyola College, Greenwich, 18 February 1929, and went overseas for his studies, to Rathfarnham as a junior, Tullamore, Jersey and Heythrop for philosophy, 1933-35, and returned to Australia for regency, at Xavier College, 1935-36 and 1939, and at Burke Hall, 1937-38. Theology studies followed at Milltown Park and tertianship at Rathfarnham, 1939-44. He worked in the English parish of Preston for a year before he returned to Australia and the parish of Richmond in 1945.

He was made superior and parish priest of Toowong, Queensland, 1949-57, and then held a similar position in the parish of Richmond in the Melbourne archdiocese, 1957-64. He was a good parish priest; very paternal, kind and generous, well organised and enjoyed the authority and dignity of the position. While at Richmond he organised the building of the spire on the church.

He became unwell from heart disease, and joined the university scholastics at Campion College, Kew, as minister and assistant to the province bursar. He was much appreciated for his kindness and understanding and very positive in giving permissions, with the phrase, 'Oh, why not!' This attitude was in direct contrast to the rector who was more likely to deny requests. As his health deteriorated, he went to the parish of Lavender Bay, North Sydney, in 1968, when he died finally of a heart attack.

He was not an intellectual, and always struggled with his Jesuit studies, but he was gifted in human relations. He loved being with Jesuits and was enjoyable company in recreation. He was most hospitable, and keenly felt any separation from his fellow Jesuits, especially when at Toowong. His cheerfulness and encouragement of others was much appreciated. He showed the zeal of a true pastor, knowing his people well, especially at Richmond.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Leslie Harper SJ

Biographical Notes