In Loving Memory of David Butler

David with a child at a Health Centre in Mannya, Uganda. - Photo: Sr Carmel Butler

Recently, we were honoured to welcome Sr Carmel Butler, sister of the late David Butler, to the Columban Mission Centre. During her visit, I had the privilege of hearing about David’s remarkable life - a story not only inspiring in its depth and breadth but also deeply connected to the missionary spirit we hold dear. Listening to Carmel, it became clear that David’s life was one of extraordinary service, quietly lived yet globally impactful. It is only fitting that we share his story with the wider Columban community, who, knowingly or not, walked alongside David through his lifelong mission.

David’s connection to the Columbans began early. He grew up with the Columban Mission Box and The Far East magazine as familiar and formative presences in his family home. These were not just tokens of religious life; they ignited in him a curiosity about the world and a call to mission. He read The Far East eagerly, captivated by the lives and works of missionaries serving in far-off lands. These stories planted the seeds of faith and global solidarity that would come to define his own journey.

Professionally, David was an electrical engineer - a man known among colleagues for his quiet reliability and diligence. “When David was trusted with a task, it would be done - done well and on time,” a former workmate shared. More than a dependable professional, he was also remembered as a friend. Yet his identity as an engineer was only one part of who he was. David integrated his skills and insights into all areas of his life, offering them generously for causes far beyond his workplace.

A lifelong learner, David continually pursued studies in theology, pastoral outreach, languages, and finance. But it was his way of putting knowledge into action that left a lasting impression. Every year, David used his annual leave not for rest but for global outreach. He would book a round-the-world ticket, carefully map out his travel plans, and set off to visit communities in need - living among the local people, listening to their stories, and returning home with renewed purpose and first-hand understanding.

David’s missionary spirit was lived. He was not afraid of difficult places or unfamiliar cultures. Indeed, he sought them out, believing that only by walking beside the poor could he truly respond with justice and compassion. His visits were purposeful, and travel was often risky, even dangerous. Yet he returned with stories, data, and hope - and a quiet determination that the people he met would not be forgotten.

His enduring commitment to the St Vincent de Paul Society began in his teenage years and spanned decades. Recognised in 2023 as an Emeritus Vincentian, David served at local, state, and national levels, including as part of the National Overseas Partnerships Team. He was especially passionate about the Society’s Twinning Program, coordinating partnerships with communities across Asia and Africa. He visited partner countries using his own resources and personal leave - always advocating for a hand up, not a handout.

David had a special connection with Myanmar. The National President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Myanmar, Brother Alphonse Kyaw Min, described David as “a supportive leader” and “a reliable person” who had earned the love and respect of Vincentians across the region.

David also served Catholic Mission in Victoria, delivering annual appeals at parishes and preparing well-researched reports with accompanying photographs to present the real needs of people across the globe. One of his most impactful initiatives was his role in linking St Bernard’s Parish in Belmont, Geelong, with St Luke’s Parish in Mannya, Uganda - a partnership that continues to this day. Fr Nestus of Mannya reflected on David’s influence, sharing how he transformed what was once considered a “Mission Impossible” into a sustainable and thriving collaboration. “David,” he wrote, “was never comfortable unless something better was being done in other people’s lives.”

Closer to home, David was deeply involved in community service. He was a long-standing member of the Kiwanis Club of Geelong, served as a Eucharistic Minister in his parish, and visited the sick and housebound weekly, offering communion, company, and sometimes groceries.

David at Blessing and Opening of Vincentian House, Geelong – an aged care home, now sold. Photo: Sr Carmel Butler

He was a quiet companion to men in shelter housing, a supporter of international students, and the visionary behind two seaside units in Torquay that for decades offered families affordable holidays. His contributions extended to the Geelong Interfaith Network, where he engaged with members of other faiths, always respectful and open-hearted in his approach. He also gave back to the institution that helped shape him by volunteering as treasurer of the Old Collegians.

In his relationship with the Columbans, David maintained a personal and profound connection. On three separate occasions, he visited Columban Fr Robert McCulloch’s projects in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and maintained regular contact with Columban missionaries worldwide. He offered time, written communication, encouragement, and prayer. He didn’t just support the Columbans - he stood with them.

David’s life was captured beautifully in the title of his book: A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out. This simple phrase encapsulates his belief in dignity, partnership, and sustainable change. He urged others to move beyond doing for people and instead to ask what needs to be set in place with them - for safety, continuance, and life. In his final act of thoughtfulness, David left detailed notes for his funeral, choosing the Gospel of Matthew 25:34-40. The reading, a clear reflection of his life, reminds us that in serving the hungry, the sick, the stranger, we serve Christ Himself.