Rev Frank Martin
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Francis
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Frank
Surname:
Martin
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Darlinghurst NSW
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney NSW
Country of Ordination:
Australia
Ordination Diocese:
Sydney
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Sutherland NSW
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Rookwood NSW
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Sydney's oldest priest dies at 99, by Staff Writers, Catholic Weekly, 8 March 2016, https://catholicweekly.com.au/sydneys-oldest-priest-dies-at-99/, accessed 13 August 2026 [includes photograph]:
Sydney's oldest priest has died at the age of 99 after an extraordinary 75 years of priesthood.
Fr Frank Martin died on 7 March at Sutherland Hospital.
He was honoured last October with a papal honour, the Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontiface, for his "outstanding and very long and lasting devotion to the priesthood and to the archdiocese of Sydney".
Bishop Terry Brady, auxiliary bishop of Sydney, presented the papal cross to the priest at Stella Maris Aged Care Home, Cronulla, his home of many years.
Gymea parish priest Mons Brian Rayner, once an altar boy during Fr Frank's days at East Granville, saw Fr Frank as a priestly role model and friend.
A memorable preacher throughout Mons Rayner's youth, Fr Frank once again demonstrated his gift for inspiring a congregation when he spoke at an anniversary Mass for St Catherine Laboure several years ago.
"His sight was failing and he was using a huge magnifying glass with his face almost on the page when he read," Mons Rayner told The Catholic Weekly in an October 2015 interview. "But then he started preaching and he was amazing. He has never lost his love of the priesthood or his power as a preacher."
Fr Frank had entered the seminary at St Columba's College, Springwood, at 15.
After further studies at St Patrick's College, Manly, he was ordained by Cardinal Norman Gilroy on 25 July, 1940.
He served three years in Tasmania, followed by appointments at Daceyville, Camperdown, Penshurst, Enfield and Concord parishes.
Appointed administrator and then priest in charge at Lawson, he spent time in the Blue Mountains before returning to Sydney as parish priest at East Granville where he became a true builder of the Church. Organising volunteer work gangs, putting on fundraisers and concerts, a new church, presbytery and church hall were built.
Taking over as parish priest at Flemington he served there until his formal retirement in 1981, when like many priests he continued to help out at various parishes and was for a time administrator at Woollahra and later at Matraville.
A Vigil Mass for Fr Frank Martin will be celebrated at Stella Maris Aged Care, Cronulla, at 7pm on 14 March. He will be farewelled the following day, 15 March, with a Funeral Mass at St Aloysius Church, Cronulla, from 11am before being laid to rest at Rookwood Cemetery.
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Death notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 2016:
Reverend Father Francis Martin
24.10.1916 - 07.03.2016
Ordained to the Priesthood 25.07.1940.
Former Parish Priest of Lawson, East Granville and Flemington. Founded the Xaverian Club at Enfield, where he ministered for three decades.
Son of James and Linda (both deceased).
Beloved brother and brother-in-law of James and Lil, Linda and Clive, Patrick and Lola (all deceased) and John and Maria. Fond uncle of Ron and Julie Martin, Joan and Gary Herrmann, Frank and Margaret Martin, Sally and Bruce Altson, Paul and Margaret Martin, Linda and Tim Riley, Irene Cook, Patricia and Peter Niall (both deceased) John and Debra Martin.
Great uncle of their children John, Peter, David, Karen, Andrew (deceased), Joanne, Michael, Susan, Natalie, Peter, Elizabeth, Martin, Shannon, Deborah, Andrew, Sarah, Daniel, James and Stephanie. Great-great-uncle of twenty three and great-great-great uncle of one.
Now in God's care but forever in our hearts.
Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Reverend Father Francis Martin will be offered in St Aloysius Gonzaga Church, Giddings Avenue, Cronulla on Tuesday March 15, 2016 commencing at 11.00am.
The funeral will leave the church at the conclusion of the Mass for Rookwood Catholic Cemetery.
Vigil Mass will be offered in The Chapel of Stella Maris Aged Care Facility, 6 Coast Avenue, Cronulla on Monday, March 14, 2016, commencing at 7.00pm.
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Gravestone: "Parish Priest: Lawson, East Granville and Flemington. Founder of Xavierian Club, Enfield 1951. Awarded Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice 1 October 2015. [...] Fr Frank was in his 100th year of life and 75th year of his priesthood. 'Well done, good and faithful servant ...' (Matthew 25:21)"