Fr Bernard Dagge - Photo: St Columbans Mission Society
Fr John Bernard Cleary was born in Echuca, Victoria on August 12, 1927, the second of three children. He obtained his primary education at St Mary’s Parish School, Echuca, and his secondary education by correspondence.
At 15 years of age, he began employment as a Telegraph Messenger and Postman at the Wangaratta Post Office. During the next four years he studied at night school, obtained his Leaving Certificate, and qualified as an Accountant.
In 1949, he began his formation as a Columban missionary priest, completing his Spiritual Year in Wahroonga, NSW; Philosophy at Essendon, Victoria; and Theology in Wahroonga, NSW. He was ordained a Deacon by Cardinal Gilroy at St. Patrick’s College, Manly, in September 1955, and ordained a priest in December of the same year by Coadjutor Archbishop Justin Simonds in Melbourne.
He then studied in Rome and graduated with a Degree in Canon Law in June 1958. A few months later, he made his way to Manila in the Philippines, where he was soon appointed to the parish of Isabela, Negros, and later to the Candoni and La Castellana parishes.
In 1965, Fr Bernard received an appointment to the ANZ Region, where he served as Correspondence Manager in the Far East Office, Essendon and later as Vocations Director.
In 1969, Fr Bernard returned to the Philippines and the parish of Isabela. In 1970, he was a delegate to the Columban General Assembly in Dalgan Park, Ireland. In 1971, he was appointed to the Columban Seminary at Turramurra, NSW, where he taught Moral Theology and Church History. In February 1976, Fr Bernard was appointed Regional Director for the ANZ Region and attended the General Assembly in Baguio, Philippines, and an Inter-Regional Convention in Lima, Peru in 1978.
A second term as ANZ Regional Director followed (1979-1982). In 1982, he was an elected delegate to the General Assembly in Lima, Peru, at which he was elected Superior General.
In 1989, Fr Bernard was re-appointed to the Philippines where he again served in Negros and as pastor in Kabankalan. An appointment to the ANZ Region followed in 1994 when he moved to Perth and engaged in Mission Awareness and parish supplies. October of that year again saw him elected as a delegate to the General Assembly in Chile.
Throughout 1996-98 he served as administrator of the parish of Chiltern in the Sandhurst Diocese in Victoria. Back in Essendon from 1998, he did weekend supplies and Canon Law work for Columban Regional Directors and Superiors General.
Fr Bernard officially retired in 2010, staying at St Columbans, Essendon, until poor health brought about a move to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in 2019.
Fr Bernard died peacefully at Caritas Christi Hospice, Kew, Victoria, on March 9, 2023, aged 95 years. May he rest in peace.
Listen to "Celebrating Fr John Bernard Cleary's missionary life"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - June 2023
