Bishop John Gerry
Title:
Bishop
First Name:
John
Middle Names:
Joseph
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Gerry
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Milton, Brisbane QLD
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Rome
Country of Ordination:
Italy
Ordination Diocese:
Brisbane
Seminary:
Pius XII Provincial Seminary, Banyo, Australia
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Brisbane QLD
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Nudgee, Brisbane QLD
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Coolangatta | 1951 | 1956 | Funeral brochure | |||||
| Brisbane | Cathedral | 1956 | 1961 | Funeral brochure | |||||
| Brisbane | Stafford | Parish Priest | 1961 | 1974 | Funeral brochure | ||||
| Brisbane | Herston | Parish Priest | 1974 | 1975 | Funeral brochure | ||||
| Brisbane | Brisbane | Vicar for Social Welfare | 1974 | Funeral brochure | |||||
| Brisbane | Brisbane | Auxiliary Bishop | Jul | 1975 | 11 | Feb | 2002 | Funeral brochure | |
| Brisbane | Brisbane | Vicar-General | Jul | 1975 | Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 3 August 1975, p 2 | ||||
| Australia | National | Chair, Australian Catholic Relief | Funeral brochure | ||||||
| Australia | National | Executive, Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania | Funeral brochure |
Episcopal Ordinations Table
Diocese | Day | Month | Year | Place | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 29 | Jul | 1975 | St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane QLD | Australia |
Biographical Notes
Funeral brochure:
John Joseph Gerry was born at Milton, Brisbane, on 1 June, 1927, the second of eight children and the eldest son of Martin and Norah Gerry. Along with all the family, John's education was with the Sisters of Mercy at Rosalie and then Marist Brothers College, Rosalie. John completed his secondary education at Pius XII Seminary, Banyo and was sent to complete his training for the priesthood in Rome
where he was ordained on 21 December, 1950.
Upon his return to the Archdiocese Fr John Gerry was appointed by Archbishop Duhig to St Augustine's Parish, Coolangatta where he was to remain for five years. From 1956 to 1961 Fr Gerry was one of the assistant priests of the Cathedral of St Stephen before being appointed parish priest of Queen of Apostles Parish at Stafford where he was to remain until 1974.
In 1974 Archbishop Francis Rush appointed Fr Gerry both Vicar for Social Welfare and parish priest of St Joan of Arc Parish, Herston. The following year he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, being ordained on 29 July, 1975.
Bishop Gerry was the driving force behind the creation of Centacare - the Archdiocese's social welfare arm. Nationally, Bishop Gerry was Chair of Australian Catholic Relief (now called Caritas Australia) and was a member of the Social Welfare and Health Care committees of the Australian Bishops' Conference and the Christian World Service Commission of the National Council of Churches. Internationally he acted as the Executive of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania.
From 1976 to 1997 Bishop Gerry lived at St Paschal's, Wavell Heights before moving to St Brigid's, Red Hill in 1997. After his retirement in 2002, Bishop Gerry continued to reside at St Brigid's and kept a keen interest in all aspects of the life of the Archdiocese. In 2009, Bishop Gerry moved to Holy Spirit Home at Carseldine where he lived until his death on 13 December, 2017. Bishop John Gerry toiled in
the Lord's vineyard for 42 years as a bishop and 67 years as a priest - may he now enjoy eternal rest.
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Death notices, Courier-Mail, Brisbane, 16 December 2017:
Gerry, Most Reverend John Joseph 1927-2017. Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane 1975-2003. Priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge invites the clergy, religious and people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and all relatives and friends to participate in the Solemn Funeral Mass for Bishop John Gerry to be celebrated at The Cathedral of St. Stephen, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane on 21st December 2017 at 11a.m. Following Mass the Rite of Committal will be held at Nudgee Cemetery at 2:30p.m. Everyone is also welcome to attend Vigil Prayers, which will be held at St Brigid's Church, Red Hill, on Wednesday evening, 20th December at 7p.m. Please note: no parking at Cathedral.
Gerry, Most Reverend John Joseph 1927-2017 The relatives and friends of Peter Grealy (dec'd) and Kathleen, Ron (dec'd) and Margaret Ryan, Fr Frank Gerry SVD, Leo (dec'd) and Joy Gerry, Therese Kurz and Karl (dec'd), Martin and Joan Gerry, Peter and Gillian (dec'd) Gerry are invited to attend the funeral liturgies for their brother and uncle, Bishop John Gerry as per previous notice.