Francis VAUGHAN Obituary
VAUGHAN, Reverend Father Francis Anthony.
Mass of Christian Burial for REVEREND FATHER FRANCIS ANTHONY VAUGHAN will be offered in Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, 23 Yardley Avenue, Waitara on Friday, August 1, 2014 commencing at 11.30am.
The funeral will leave the cathedral at the conclusion of the Mass for Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery, 1 Hakea Avenue, Davidson.
Vigil Mass will be offered in Queen of Peace Church, 18 Stuart Avenue, Normanhurst, on THURSDAY,
July 31, 2014 commencing at 7.30pm
4 Entries
July 31, 2014
Fr Vaughan was one of the great priests in my life, even though I have only been in the Church for 23 years. Everyone loved him. His homilies were always excellent, and his helpfulness to parishioners was legendary. Nobody whom he served could possibly forget him.
July 28, 2014
And he will be fondly remembered for his works in Blackheath Parish before going to Normanhurst.
Ken Cullen, Camperdown.
Paul Collits
July 28, 2014
Every so often we lose one of the great ones. This occurred this week when Fr Frank Vaughan passed away, aged very close to the ton I believe, in a nursing home on the north shore of Sydney. This was a man who I simply adored, my parish priest for over a decade at Normanhurst. To say he was much loved would be a massive understatement. He was still saying Mass and running a parish well into his nineties, having been the one and only ever PP of Queen of Peace. That must be a record. He was orthodox but not a traditionalist, He said Mass beautifully and led a most prayerful, reverent and indeed silent congregation. The best sort, and a rarity these days when priests often seem to confuse churches with bingo halls. Fr's Mass was a favourite location for Opus Dei members, a strong test of orthodoxy. But this is not what one remembers most. It is the love of the man for his Saviour, Jesus Christ. This was utterly transparent, and infectious. Fr was a joy after the crankiness of the then PP at St Agatha's down the road, I too was one of many refugees from that church. Fr asked me to become a server/acolyte which I did for several years on Saturdays and Sundays. These were indeed precious times, to share the altar with this devoted man of God. He was very funny too. With his old (in every sense) buddy Fr Frank Martin he would concelebrate Holy Thursday Mass and Good Friday service. Memorably, he apologised one year or not washing the feet of parishioners. He said that he and Fr Martin (both aged 90 or so) and he had enough trouble washing their own feet let alone anyone else's!
Of course Fr was also an ex first (but mainly second) grade rugby league player in the 30s, with his beloved Easts. He would have rubbed shoulders with some of the greats, like Ray Stehr and Dave Brown, a fellow winger.
I gather he has not had a happy time of it lately, though he remained healthy till the peaceful end. He was probably cranky that he had to retire - at 96 or so!
May this beautiful man now enjoy his eternal reward. It is not for us to call these things, but if Fr V is now now enjoying the company of the saints, then what hope have the rest of us got? We all have our favourite priests. Among a packed field, this man was mine.
Patrick Kirkwood
July 26, 2014
Ecce Sacerdos Magnus! Behold a great Priest! Frank Vaughan was the founder of Normanhurst parish. His greatest deeds will remain hidden. He was a priest of compassion and friendship and a defender of the faith. He lived wisely in a time of change. Peace.
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