Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, the Bishop of Parramatta along with the family, clergy and the people of the Diocese of Parramatta mourn the death of Fr Eugene Stockton, who died peacefully yesterday, Wednesday 5 August 2026.
Aged 91, Fr Eugene was not only a priest who served for more than 60 years in parishes across Sydney and Parramatta but has been given many titles: priest-archeologist; scholar, teacher and educator; self-described ‘bush theologian’; Aboriginal Chaplain; entrepreneur; and Blue Mountains Hermit to name a few.
Born on 30 November 1934 in Waitara, Sydney to parents Ernest and Elsie Stockton, from an early age the bush stirred his imagination, and he made a long-term commitment to ‘listening’ to the Australian bush or ‘his country’ as he fondly calls it.
Growing up in Lawson in the central Blue Mountains, he took every chance to explore tracks, caves and swamps and listening to the behaviour of the native wildlife. The bush was his ‘playground’ and much later in life, he would recall these childhood experiences as foundational to his understanding of Aboriginal spirituality and their connectedness to land. In 1968 Cardinal Gilroy noticed his connectivity and passion and appointed him the first Chaplain to Aboriginal Catholics in Sydney.
He was known as the “Indiana Jones” of the Catholic priesthood. He survived war zones, uncovered archaeological breakthroughs, tackled 14 languages, started the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and found time to complete two doctorates for his work as a seminary lecturer.
But the Blue Mountains were always his calling. He was an active participant over decades in the Blue Mountains Interfaith Group, the Blue Mountains Public Theology Group, Wellspring, as the founder of the Blue Mountain Education and Research Trust, and keen member of several meditation groups.
He lived as a hermit since 2001 and was consecrated as such by then-Bishop Kevin Manning in 2006, living a life of contemplation and solitude in his childhood home in the Blue Mountains. He continued to give back to the community, celebrating Mass where needed, authoring many books and recently was honoured with a book written about him: Eugene Stockton: Blue Mountains Hermit. Fr Eugene was loved by many, considered a “Blue Mountains treasure.”
Mass of Christian Burial of Fr Eugene Stockton
We warmly invite all to join us in giving thanks for Fr Eugene’s life and ministry at his Mass of Christian Burial.
Mass of Christian Burial
Date: Friday 14 August
Time: 11am
Location: St Thomas Aquinas, Springwood
Burial to follow at: Wentworth Falls Catholic Cemetery
Rev Eugene Stockton
30 November 1934 – 5 August 2026
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
