Tributes have flowed in for one of Ararat’s longest serving and much-loved Catholic priests, Father Brendan Davey.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Father Davey served in a number of parishes over his 53 years as a parish priest.
He was parish priest at St Mary's parish for 25 years where he held the challenging role of chaplain to Ararat prison for more than two decades.
Marian College drama teacher and parishioner Teresa Tonks remembered Father Davey’s unflagging commitment to his values.
"He practised two of the greatest challenges asked of Christians; limitless forgiveness and a refusal to judge others,” Ms Tonks said.
“I guess part of our sadness at his passing is that we may never meet such a fine man again in our lives.”
Friend of Father Davey Ballarat barrister Anthony Krohn, described him as "the gentlest black and white apostle of Ararat".
"It was nothing for him to continually travel 150km on Sunday to say Mass and ensure he was serving all his parish," Mr Krohn said. “He was very gentle and merciful. He regularly visited the prison (at Ararat) and spoke and listened to those prisoners who no else had any time for because he knew this too was part of his duty as a priest."
Father Davey was brought up in Ballarat, attending St Columba’s Primary School in Ballarat North and St Patrick’s College, before beginning eight years of study at the Corpus Christi Seminary.
Former Marian College principal John Crowley remembered a “kind, gentle and generous man” who baked green scones for staff and students every St Patrick’s Day.
St Mary’s current parish priest Father Andrew Hayes lauded Father Davey as a friend to everyone.
“He would help anyone,” he said. “He will be greatly missed. Brendan would drop everything to visit people who were sick or dying, whatever the time of day or night. He would welcome anyone into his home and cook for them.”
Father Hayes said Father Davey was a passionate Collingwood supporter who loved animals. Father Davey, 80, retired in 2014. He died peacefully at Nazareth House nursing home in Ballarat on Tuesday after a long battle with ill health. He will be laid to rest in Ararat.