From the Regional Director of Oceania
Noel passed away on 6 June 2020 and now abides with the Lord. It is taking me some time to get used to the idea that Noel is no longer available at the end of the phone call. He has been so much part of my life and that of many others. His not being here is a gap, a space that no one else can fill.
These days memories of Noel on the football field come back to me, whether that were played at St Columban’s College in NSW or in the fiercely fought games at St Patrick’s College, Manly, against those other men preparing for ordination in the dioceses of NSW. He was a great competitor and always got picked to play the big games.
Part of Noel’s gift was that he was from Gympie and knew how to speak to people of many different levels within society. As a moral theologian, trained by the Redemptorists in Rome, he was at ease with academics. He was part of that group of people in Sydney who paved the way for seminarians to access accredited theological studies in an ecumenical environment. He worked with Korean migrants in Sydney for many years also. He never lost his pastoral passion. In more recent years he ministered to some in the Chinese community of Sydney.
There was never any doubt that Noel was a Columban missionary. He always had stories to tell of his mission work in Korea and his twelve years as the Vicar General of the Columban Society in the 1990s.
These stories were usually quite humorous. Noel’s presence and good spirits enlivened many conversations and gatherings.
His resilience was obvious.
The way that he kept on working even though he was sick towards the end of his life was amazing.
There was great sensitivity in Noel. He did surprise me sometimes when he was quite emotional, and I saw a tear or two rolls down his cheek. No wonder he was much loved, and many people rejoiced in his presence.
Thank you, Noel, for who you were, and I ask that you continue to pray for all of us who called you friend.
Fr Trevor Trotter
Regional Director of Oceania
rdoceania@columban.org.au
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
