Obituary

The passing of a holy, many-talented Jesuit - Fr Victor Ian Falconer SJ

Michael O'Callaghan

Contents - Mar 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pray for John Paul II ... - Peter Westmore Vocations: Australian diocesan seminary numbers continue to increase - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Cinema: Hollywood's Kinsey whitewash - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Moral divisions among the Christian Churches threaten ecumenism - Archbishop Barry Hickey Dissent: Notes from a theology unit at Australian Catholic University Church's future lies with orthodoxy, not dissent - Fr Paul Stuart Culture: Secularism, not religion, is threatened with extinction - David Quinn Events: Holy Week Celebrations - Classical Roman Rite A young Catholic's encounter with Latin at Chavagnes International College - Alexander Morrison Adult Education: Sydney Centre for Thomistic Studies continues a great teacher's legacy - Audrey English Letters: Priestly celibacy (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Overseas priests and racism - Fr Peter Joseph Letters: Reporting abuses is not spying (letter) - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Mangled hymns (letter) - Michael Apthorp Letters: Orthodox young priest (letter) - John David Letters: Abortion (letter) - Fr Austin Kenny CP Letters: Leadership needed (letter) - Tom King Letters: AIDS prevention (letter) - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Bible and Church (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Layman saint Bob Santamaria (letter) - J.W. McMahon Letters: Convert (letter) - Jeff Harvie Letters: Information sought on Kathleen Cecilia Butler (letter) - John G. Brown Letters: Latin Mass (letter) - Alan Freckelton Obituary: The passing of a holy, many-talented Jesuit - Fr Victor Ian Falconer SJ - Michael O'Callaghan Books: DOLLFUSS: An Austrian Patriot, by Fr Johannes Messner - Alice von Hildebrand Books: THE CASTLE OF HEAVENLY BLISS - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Books to read in 2005 Reflection: The Holy Trinity and the Church: the truth will set you free - Fr John O'Neill

Fr Victor Ian Falconer SJ died peacefully at Nazareth House, Camberwell, Victoria, on 9 December 2004. He was in his 89th year and had been a Jesuit for 71 years. He had been a regular contributor to AD2000 almost since its inception.

Born in 1916 in Penang, Straits Settlements (now Malaysia), he entered the Jesuits in 1934 and was ordained a priest in 1949. He studied at Heythorp College and Campion Hall, Oxford, and later gained a Master's Degree from Oxford University.

He then taught for 15 years at the University of Rhodesia-Zimbabwe and was Catholic chaplain. He subsequently obtained degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Gregorian University.

While teaching in Salisbury (now Harare), he was asked to audition as a radio broadcaster, which he undertook for six years, later adding television and dramatic and musical involvement to his apostolate.

In 1982 he was invited to Australia, tutoring at St Thomas More College, Perth, for six years where he was also involved with the Perth Undergraduate Chorale Society. The following three years, he was chaplain to the St Joseph's Convent of Mercy, Geelong.

Shortly after arriving in Melbourne, Fr Falconer became chaplain to the Latin Rite Community at St Anne's, Kew.

The eulogy at Fr Falconer's Requiem Mass was delivered by Fr Tom Lake-Smith SJ, who referred to a quote from the late Superior-General of the Jesuits, Fr Pedro Arrupe: "Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the morning, what you will do in the evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, what you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything."

Fr Lake-Smith said that in many ways this faithfully mirrored the life of Fr Falconer, a priest who found God in all things.

One could not visit Fr Falconer, particularly in his last days, without an awareness of his sense of peace. Ever the gentleman, lecturer, writer, servant of God and his Church, he is remembered with affection and gratitude by his Jesuit community, colleagues, relatives and many friends, both here in Australia and abroad.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 2 (March 2005), p. 16