This is a listing of notifications the Parramatta Marist Old Boys Union has received of the passing of Old Boys. “Vale” is latin for farewell and “Fortior Ito” means go forward with strength.
Click on the Old Boy’s Name for further details and a brief biography.
If we do not have the date of passing then the last day of the known month or year is used.
Please use the comments section at the bottom of the page or the contact form on this website to provide further details.
You can search surnames alphabetically. Click Clear Search on the right-hand side to return to the complete list
The tables immediately below are sorted by Class Year and Year of Passing respectively.
Sorted by Class Year, latest to earliest
Sorted by year of passing, latest to earliest.
Reverend Father John William Pearce, CP, 1968
Biographical Info
Fr. John Pearce (SPIR)
Born: 06 July 1950
Profession: 09 January 1971
Ordination: 28 February 1976
Death: 06 May 2019
Requiescat in pace
John Pearce CP (Old Boy Class of 1968), passed away in NZ yesterday. John had served the Marlborough region for some years and attended his Class’ 50th Anniversary at the Old Boys Annual Reunion Dinner last October. May you go with forth with strength into the next life John. R.I.P
Reverend Father John William Pearce CP Died suddenly in Blenheim, New Zealand on Sunday May 5, 2019. Remembered by his loving family, the Passionist congregation, parishioners in Endeavour Hills, Marrickville and Blenheim, New Zealand. To all he touched in the Ministry we offer you our deepest sympathy. May he rest in peace Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for Reverend Father John Pearce CP was offered in St. Brigid s Church, Livingstone Road, Marrickville on Wednesday May 15, 2019 at 11.00 a. m. Refreshments will be served in Shrublands Hall following the Mass. The Funeral will leave for the Church following refreshments for Rookwood Catholic Cemetery at 3.00pm. Vigil Mass for Reverend Father John Pearce CP was offered at St. Brigid s Church, Livingstone Road, Marrickville on Wednesday May 14, 2019 at 7.00pm.
Chris was a good friend when I attended parramatta Marist. I used to run into him around the courts, he never seemed to change always a gentleman.
I’ve got Vale John Cassidy’s picture but how do I email it to you ????
Frank O’Sullivan
Vale John Cassidy LC 1962 Died 28th August 2019
John Cassidy and I worked on a religious organisation in our days at Marist Brothers Parramatta. It was to spread the message of Our Lady of Fatima that is, world peace through prayer, the Blue Army. It was a very strange coincidence that it was one of Cardinal Gilroy’s pet projects, but we didn’t know that at the time. The cardinal had set the organisation up in Sydney under Professor F G Coleman Sydney University and Father Cameron head of the Augustinian order in Sydney.
From 1959 – 1962 I did latin classes at St Mary’s Cathedral, late on Friday afternoon in preparation to enter, my studies for the priesthood. I ran into Cardinal Gilroy on many occasions as he did confessions 5pm to 6pm and I trapped him either going/coming in the presbytery grounds. So the long and short of it all is, that I dragged our John C along with me to say Hi and explain the difficulties we were having with Monsignor McGovern in conducting our Blue Army prayer meetings in St Pats at Parramatta. He smiled at us both & said would we from time to time give him a progress report on our work with the Blue Army. John and I had a few brief encounters with the cardinal & strangely we never had any further problems with the cranky old monsignor.
John Cassidy was a very humble man and would never have repeated this story but having been befriended by a cardinal, lived in a village named after the cardinal and being buried from the chapel on Friday 6th September 2019 that bears the cardinal’s name, I felt it appropriate to tell the story.
Frank O’Sullivan