On Tuesday 19 November, the parish community of Our Lady of the Rosary, St Marys, came together in a spirit of reverence and remembrance for the Diocese of Parramatta’s 3rd annual Mass for Deceased Clergy.
The Mass, a poignant tribute to the priests who have faithfully served the Diocese, was celebrated by Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, together with Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia Fr Peter Williams AM, Parish Priest Fr Brendan Murphy SDB, and other clergy of the Diocese. Fr Jeff Miller SDB played the organ and led the singing.
In his homily, Bishop Vincent acknowledged the important contribution of clergy who have died, including Bishop Bede Heather, Bishop Kevin Manning who passed away in July this year, as well as Fr Lou Breslan, Fr Rod Bray, Fr Eric Burton, Fr Dave Scott, Fr Maurice McNamara, and Fr Brian Rooney, among others.
“Brothers and sisters, today, we thank God for the ministry and legacy of these priests; that they have generously shared with us not only the gospel of God, but they have lived the Paschal Mystery to the best of their ability and shown us the true mystery of Jesus Christ: compassion, humility, and servitude,” he said.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv delivers his homily. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
After Mass, the community gathered for morning tea and an opportunity to reminisce about clergy who had supported them over the years. Following the gathering, attendees made their way to local cemetery to honour the final resting places of three dedicated priests: Fr James Phelan (1820-1898), Fr George O’Mara (1854-2018) and Fr Peter Connelly (1943-2013).
Fr Brendan led a brief prayer service at the cemetery, offering prayers and blessings at the graves of these beloved priests.
Fr James Phelan (1820 – 5 January 1898)
An Irish countryman with a heart of gold, Fr James Phelan was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and answered the call to become a priest in the new colony of Australia. What we know of Fr James Phelan is that he was one of the first priests to be ordained in Australia, was the first Parish Priest of Petersham, first resident priest of St Marys and was a co-founder with Saint Mary of the Cross McKillop of two catholic schools in Penrith and St Marys.
During his ministry in the western suburbs, he had travelled through bush in the Blue Mountains and beyond to isolated homesteads for ‘Mass stations’, and in 1880, was appointed Parish Priest of Penrith.
He remained there until 1885, when he retired in St Marys in his own cottage, on the present Don Bosco Youth Centre site.
What may be little-known is that Fr Phelan had bought the land on which Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School now stands.
Fr Brendan Murphy has visited the birthplace of Fr Phelan and composed a biography – a collection of images, facts and anecdotes, about his life. In that biography, Fr Brendan Murphy described Fr Phelan as “a priest of extraordinary zeal, boundless and practical charity and constant activity.”
“He was an apostle, shepherd and friend not only to his Catholic flock, but also to the Aboriginal people and to those of other Christian denominations,” Fr Brendan wrote.
As to Fr Phelan’s shrewdness and kindness, the biography includes an anecdote recorded by George Robertson, co-founder of the well-known Australian publisher Angus & Robertson, in a letter to poet Fr Patrick Hartigan (known as ‘John O’Brien’). In that letter, George Robertson recalled how Fr Phelan would “steal his own fowls” to give them to the sick and needy – whoever they were. The mystery of the disappearing fowls was one that “made his housekeeper storm” and even involved a sting operation with the local police, who carried out a stealth operation to catch the thief. Anderson wrote:
“Picture to yourself poor Fr Phelan caught in the act of removing, in the dead of the night, a couple of slabs from the wall of his own hen house!”
At the cemetery, Fr Brendan also acknowledged two men who would deliver flowers regularly to Fr James’ grave for many years: Fr Jerry Breen SDB and Daniel Somacic, before passing away in 2017.
Magnified photo of St Bernard’s Presbytery Hartley, circa 1871-6, during the time Fr James Phelan was living at Hartley. The person in this photo is presumed to be Fr James Phelan. Courtesy of NSW State Library, the Mitchell Library (from the famous Holtermann Collection).
Fr George Wiliam O’Mara (8 Sep 1954 – 23 Nov 1985)
In 2018, the Diocese farewelled Fr George O’Mara after an “horrific” three-year illness due to an aggressive tumour.
Fr George was born in Penrith and went to school at Our Lady of the Rosary, St Marys and St Dominic’s College, Penrith. He studied at St Patrick’s College, Manly and was ordained to the priesthood on 23 November 1985, and served in ministry for 33 years.
Fr George held parish appointments in Winston Hills, Springwood, Windsor, Westmead, Blacktown, Quakers Hill (Parish Priest), Penrith, Harris Park and in 2007 was appointed Parish Priest of Cranebrook.
At the burial site, married couple Pam and Des Kelly spoke of their lifelong friendship with Fr George.
“We met George O’Mara around 50 years ago, when he went to work at Sydney Water Board in St Marys and we lived in Blackheath, Pam said.
“He and his mum came to visit … and we just became lifelong friends,” Pam said.
“We loved him dearly, and we still love him dearly.”
“We went through his journey, his priestly duties and anniversaries, and we went through his three years of suffering before he died.”
The final resting place of Fr George Wiliam O’Mara at St Mary’s Cemetary. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Mark Buhagiar, Diocesan Head of Clergy and Wellbeing, noted that the camellia leaves Pam and Des placed at Fr George’s grave had special significance, as they were in fact something Fr George had given to Pam and Dez for their 15th wedding anniversary. They’ve now been married for 59 years.
Des Kelly said Fr George was “very inspirational”. Having been merely on “nodding terms” as they passed by each other at the local bus stop, George one day turned up as a cleaner at Des’s workplace in 1974.
“He worked as a labourer, and he came and worked with us as a cleaner. He became my assistant – I was tradesman,” Des remembered. It was then that they struck up a unique and lasting friendship.
“He was determined to go back to school and finish his high school certificate, then he went to university, and then decided to become a priest – he had a really tough road getting there.”
Des recalled how he had helped Fr George in his mission to become a priest in the Diocese.
“[George] wrote his application, and I took it back to work to my general secretary to type it all up and submit it,” Des said.
“Bishop Bede was his mentor … There’s a lot of local history,” he said.
Fr Peter Charles Connelly (8 October 1943 – 3 September 2013)
As a St Marys parishioner and former parish priest of St Thomas Aquinas Springwood, Fr Peter served as Parish Priest from 1999 to 2011. He continued his ministry as Pastor Emeritus in Springwood until 2013.
His sister Sr Susan Connelly RSJ sent her apologies for being unable to attend on the day. (Peter’s father Charles and his sister Susan have each written a history of the St Marys parish.)
Peter loved his family and always spoke of his parents, Charles and Clare, with deep affection. After attending St Philip Neri’s Northbridge, Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown and Penrith High, he tried Springwood Seminary and later Werribee Seminary.
Fr Brendan Murphy blessing the grave of Fr Peter Charles Connelly at St Mary’s Cemetary. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
He took some time out from education to cultivate his famous love for horse racing, working at the Sydney Turf Club: and it was reported that Fr Peter Connelly knew more about the horses than about the saints!
In the 1980s he returned to education, accumulating several degrees (BA, DipEd, MA) and teaching at St Joseph’s Newtown, St Dominic’s Penrith and Trinity Harden-Murrumburrah where he was principal.
After some false starts at seminary and trying other professions for a time, Peter entered the Kensington seminary for late vocations.
He was ordained as a priest by Bishop Bede Heather on 17 September 1994, and served his ministry in Richmond and Penrith, and was the parish priest in Springwood. He was also a Police Chaplain in the Diocese of Parramatta.
This special gathering not only honored the legacy of those who have passed but also united the attendees in prayer, reflection, and gratitude for the lasting impact of the deceased priests and their ministry.
We pray for the repose of their souls.
A full gallery of photos is available on our Flickr page and below.
