Movie Making Priest
Gary Walker
In the August 2006 issue of The Far East we published a congratulations to Fr John Vaughan on 60 years of dedication to God and St Columban's Mission Society. Fr Vaughan died on November 9, 2006.
JOHN Dennis Vaughan was in his 90th year when he died peacefully on November 9, 2006 at McKenzie Rest Home in Geraldine, New Zealand.
He was born on April 5, 1917 in Oamaru. His primary education was in Naseby and his secondary schooling with the Christian Brothers in Dunedin.
After leaving school, he worked as a clerk in the post office for six years before travelling to St Columban's in Melbourne in 1940 to prepare for the missionary priesthood. He finished his training at Corpus Christi College, the regional seminary for Victoria, because travel to Ireland to study was impossible during to World War II.
John was ordained in Dunedin on August 1, 1946 and received an appointment to Korea. This was changed to China so he sailed for Shanghai in 1947 and began language studies there. Due to the unsettled times he was transferred to Yokohama, Japan nine months later. His life took a different turn because of his interest in making films.
In 1954 he was re-assigned to the Australia/New Zealand Region and began his great contribution to Columban promotion through the lens of his cameras. Beginning in Fiji, John made films and took stills for the next 14 years in Japan, the Philippines and then, with Columban Fr Sean Anthony Dunne, in Korea. Most would consider the best of his films to be "Path to Glory" for which well-known Hollywood actor Gregory Peck narrated.
In 1971 he returned to New Zealand. Fr John worked on mission promotion and pastoral assignments in Australia and New Zealand until in March 1986 he became permanently on loan to Christchurch Diocese, in the parish of Geraldine. Retiring in 2003, he stayed on at the Rest Home where in August last year he marked his Diamond Jubilee of priesthood. Fr John is survived by two sisters.
At a vigil Mass in Geraldine parish several local people gave moving tributes to Fr John's sense of humour, interest in people, his deep faith and said how much they will miss him. One visitor said that he was nearby John's bed when he came out of anaesthetic after an operation last year. He added that people say all kinds of things at such times, John was praying the rosary!
Fr John's Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch on November 13, 2006. Fr Brian Vale was the principal celebrant and Bishop John Cuneen presided. His new auxiliary bishop, Bishop Barry Jones attended with about 40 priests who had come off retreat to honour Fr John. Fellow Columban Fr Michael Gormly preached on John as a person of faith, a missionary from the New Zealand Church and a priest.
As in the recent funeral for Fr Hub Hayward the local clergy were hospitable and honoured John's life by their presence. He is buried in a family plot in the beautiful Darfield Catholic Cemetery near Christchurch.
May he rest in peace.
