It was with deep sadness that we announced the passing of Father John Walter O’Reilly. He passed away in the morning on Friday 7th February 2025.
Father O’Reilly was born in 1937 in County Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland, the son of a farming family. Fr O’Reilly’s parents were Austin O’Reilly and Bridget ‘Delia’ McMyler who raised a family of 11 children.
After schooling he went to the seminary on 4th June 1961 and chose Australia as his posting. He was then appointed to the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Fr O’Reilly emigrated to Australia in 1961 and served in the Melbourne Parishes of Mentone and Chadstone. He came to Sacred Heart Parish in 1968. He continued as Sacred Heart Parish Priest until 2017.
Upon moving to St. Albans, his first impressions were lack of main roads, no sewerage, only one water pipe and the Parish debt was enormous.
In 1975, Fr. O’Reilly met with the Director of the Catholic Education Board and asked what was planned for Catholic Secondary education in the West. Within 2 years Catholic Regional College opened for Year 7 students. Fr. O’Reilly was instrumental in establishing Secondary education in the west, with there now being 4 Catholic Regional colleges in the area.
His next big venture in the mid 80’s was recognising that there was a lack of palliative care for the terminally ill. Within 12 months Mercy Hospice was up and running. Some other projects that he established include:
- Creation and separation of St. Paul’s and Resurrection Parish and Schools
- New Sacred Heart Church
- Holy Eucharist Parish
- Creation and Separation of Mary MacKillop Parish
- Building Emmaus Church and School
- Building Cana School
When Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1953 the population was 4,000 and included about 400 Catholic families. When Fr O’Reilly left St Albans in 2017, the population had reached 54,000. One of his major successes was establishing Catholic schools in the district.
Father O’Reilly also had sporting talents: his prowess was such that he coached soccer at one end of the Oval and Australian Rules at the other end. It was common knowledge that the Sacred Heart School had strong football and soccer teams.”
(Adapted from ‘A Miracle of Faith and Work’, by Kevin Baker)
Fr O’Reilly’s Vigil Prayers was held on Monday 17th February at Sacred Heart Church.
Fr O’Reilly’s Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday 18th February at Sacred Heart Church with the attendance of over 1,300 people including three Bishops and around 40 priests, which reflected the many lives that Fr O’Reilly touched both within our Parish, and in the wider church and community.
Fr O’Reilly will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. O’Reilly, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
