Obituary - Fr John O'Hara

Obituary - Fr John OHaraFr John O'Hara (1930-2013)

Columban Fr John O'Hara died on Friday evening at 10:30pm in St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne after a short illness. He was 83-years-old. Only one month before his death Fr John was doing a supply in a nearby Church and declared that he was retiring from them. The following Thursday he was ill and went by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. He was diagnosed with liver cancer and knew the prognosis was terminal. He was quite relaxed talking about his impending death with his usual trademark humour.

John had been a harbour master in South Australia before he went to the seminary at the ripe old age of 27 years. Hence the name 'Pop' by which he was commonly known. He spent 30 years in Korea in two blocks of time 1964-1974 and 1976-1995. On his return to Australia he worked in several parishes in the Melbourne Archdiocese and later was in demand for supply work. He took his priestly identity seriously and provided a great deal of back up to priests in local parishes; he believed in being of service to people.

The Vicar General of the Melbourne Archdiocese described him as a kind mentor and supporter of many priests. A Requiem Mass was held in St Vincent de Paul Church, Strathmore at 10:00am on Christmas Eve.

A large crowd turned out despite it being Christmas Eve; a large contingent of Koreans came to pay their last respects to him. Their rendition of 'Amazing Grace' was superb. Bishops Vincent Long and Hilton Deakin and Vicar General of the Melbourne Archdiocese Fr Greg Bennett and a large number of priests attended the funeral.

Fr John was buried in the Columban plot at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton.  May he rest in peace.

Read more from The Far East, March 2014