Retirement of Father Cassian

Fr Cassian, one of Mater’s two full-time Catholic Chaplains, retired from service at the end of 2007 after more than twenty years.

During his time at Mater, Fr Cassian saw the organisation change significantly. He considers himself to have had a very rewarding job—offering his prayerful support, warmth, and compassion to people in times of need.

Although he has been a Franciscan Priest for 53 years, Fr Cassian can clearly remember the day he was inspired to become a Priest, as a Marist Brother’s schoolboy on the back lawn of his family home during the Second World War.

Fr Cassian’s parents belonged to the Franciscan Third Order, and as a young man, he developed a love of Franciscan spirituality. He was notified of his acceptance to the Franciscan Order while on holiday in Queenstown at a cinema when a message flashed onto the screen for him to phone home urgently.

After Ordination to the Priesthood in 1954, Fr Cassian worked with young boys in juvenile detention and continued his studies in theology. He was later posted to Palm Island, Townsville, and the leper colony on Phantom Island as Parish Priest.

In the early 70s, Fr Cassian was appointed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Chaplain, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader. However, in 1986 he relieved the Mater Catholic Chaplain and said, “The experience gave me the taste for hospital work”. He has been at Mater ever since.

Upon his retirement at Mater, Fr Cassian joined the Franciscan community at Kedron to keep working in Parish life in Brisbane.

The Mater community holds Fr Cassian in great respect and affection and we are deeply grateful for his contribution to our community of compassion.