EDITOR’S NOTE: An article by well-known Australian journalist Geraldine Willesee appeared in several Australian newspapers over the weekend of 23-24 February 2013 reporting her experience of sexual abuse by the late Fr Brian Harris when she was a 14-year-old student in Perth in the early 1960s.
At the time the below article on Fr Harris was published, The Record was unaware of any allegations of sexual abuse made about Fr Brian Harris, or any other criminal behaviour, and was not made aware of any such allegations by anyone, then or subsequently.
Had we been aware, this report and others like it would not have been written and published.
We have made the decision, for now, to leave this and other articles about Fr Brian Harris on our website, not because we think them an accurate reflection, but for the record and pending further advice from the Archdiocese of Perth. Any articles relating to Fr Harris will carry this editorial advisory note.
In welcoming the Royal Commission into institutional responses to the sexual abuse of children last year, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB described the sexual abuse of minors as “a terrible scourge in our community”.
“It is both a crime and an attack on the innocence and vulnerability of children and young people,” Archbishop Costelloe said last November.
“I reiterate my determination that the Catholic Church in Perth will do everything in its power to work with others to address this most urgent of issues.”
Peter Rosengren
Editor, The Record
23 February, 2013
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
Eleven Perth priests with differing backgrounds and work histories are awarded Papal Crosses for over 50 years of service.
By Robert Hiini
Numerous Perth clergy gathered at St Charles Seminary recently to enjoy a special moment for 11 of their brothers in arms.
On the eve of the special Year for Priests called by Pope Benedict XVI Archbishop Barry Hickey presided over the bestowal of Papal awards on 11 priests in the Archdiocese.
The Croce Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross for the Church and Pontiff) award – founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 – was given to the men to mark their fiftieth priestly jubilee. Between the recipients there was at least 550 years of priestly experience.
The event took place in the the chapel of St Charles Seminary in Guildford following afternoon tea on June 18 – the vigil of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Vianney, patron saint of priests.
Clergy and seminarians from St Charles and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Morley gathered for Pontifical Sung Vespers to celebrate the Year of the Priest that was to begin the following day.
Ten of the Papal Award recipients were present: Fathers Henry Finbarr Walsh, Maurice Toop, John O’Reilly, Eugene McGrath, Anton Hesse, Brian Harris, Michael Casey, Julian Carrasco, Thomas Byrne and Mgr Peter McCrann. Fr Thomas Gaine was absent in Ireland.
Archbishop Hickey said that the group was the first to receive the award but more would be forthcoming. He thanked and congratulated the men for their service and prayed that they continued to grow in faithfulness and prayer.
[Photo caption] The golden boys: Recipients of the Papal medal Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (the Cross for the Church and the Pontiff) stand with Archbishop Barry Hickey as they are watched by fellow presbyters and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Perth. Pictured, from left to right are: Fathers Finbarr Walsh, Maurice Toop (obscured by Fr Walsh), John O’Reilly, Eugene McGrath, Monsignor Peter McCrann, Henry Byrne, Archbishop Hickey, Julian Carrasco (to rear of Archbishop), Anton Hesse, Brian Harris and Michael Casey. Photo: robert hiini
Fr Julian Carrasco
Remembering Papal Award recipient Fr Julian Carrasco, Fr Douglas Rowe SFP described him as “a very energetic chap and a mean soccer player” when they played together back in the early 1960s in Nagpur, India.
Up until last year, Fr Carrasco had been Portuguese Chaplain based at Holy Cross Church in Hamilton Hill – a position he took up in 1991. Fr Carrasco told The Record that he remains the only Portugeuse-speaking priest in the archdiocese.
He was born at Mombasa, Kenya, on 20 December 1930. His Seminary studies were at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, Goa, India from 1941 to 1953 and he was ordained in the Basilica of St Francis Xavier, Goa, on 6 January 1954.
His began his first appointment at the parish of St Thomas, Aldona, Goa, in the same year, remaining there until 1961 when he began post-graduate studies at St Francis de Sales College, Nagpur.
He taught in Goa’s Missionary Seminary of Pilar from 1965-1966 before returning to his country of birth, Kenya, where he was a missionary and secondary school teacher in the Ngong Diocese from 1966-1986.
Fr Carrasco worked in Brazil from 1986-1987 as an assistant priest in the Campo Mourao Diocese, Parana, before making the move to the Diocese of Macau where he was an assistant priest from 1987-1991.
He was invited to the Archdiocese of Perth by Bishop Robert Healy and was incardinated to the Archdiocese of Perth on April 15 2000, at the suggestion of Fr Ned Donovan SMA.
He was Fr Donovan’s assistant in Beaconsfield and Portuguese Chaplain based at Holy Cross Church, Hamilton Hill from 1991-2008.
He continues to celebrate Mass for the Portuguese Community as well as visiting the sick in their homes, hospitals and nursing homes.
Like many of his fellow award recipients, Fr Carrasco is very active in his retirement. He continues his involvement among the Portuguese, Goan and Timorese Communities of the Archdiocese of Perth.
Fr Carrasco remains interested in promoting unity among Portuguese people and teaches the Konkani (Goan) language to local members of the Goan community.
Fr Thomas Gaine
Fr Gaine was born on November 23 1929 at Kenmare, Ireland. He was ordained a Priest of the Archdiocese of Perth on June 2 1957 at St Kieran’s Seminary Chapel, Kilkenny. Between November 1957 – March 1967 he was an assistant priest at Northam, Kalgoorlie and Claremont, including chaplaincy at the Mental Hospital, Graylands Migrant Hostel and Karrakatta Cemetery.
From March 1967 – August 1979, he served as Administrator of Highgate Parish, Assistant Priest at East Victoria Park, Priest-in-Charge of Quairading, Parish Priest of Pinjarra and acting Port Chaplain at Fremantle and the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centre.
In August 1979, Fr Gaine was appointed founding Parish Priest of Girrawheen and was responsible for forming the new Parish Community and directed the building of Our Lady of Mercy Church. Fr Gaine retired from the Parish in 2002 to County Kerry, Ireland.
Fr Henry Finbarr Walsh
Fr Walsh was born in Cork City, Ireland on March 5 1929. He was educated at the Christian Brothers’ College, Cork and All Hallows College, Dublin, being ordained there for Perth on June 21 1953.
He arrived in Perth in November 1953 and over the next eleven years, served as Assistant Priest at West Perth, Assistant Priest at Cottesloe, Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Cathedral and Secretary of the Church Office.
From July 1969 – May 1976 he served as Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral, a member of the Council of Priests, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral and the WA Coordinator for the International Eucharistic Congress held in Melbourne, Victoria. On 16 May 1976, Fr Walsh was appointed Parish Priest of Rockingham and was responsible for building the new Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Fr Walsh retired from active Parish Ministry in May 2007 and lives in Shoalwater.
Fr Maurice Toop
Maurice Toop was born in Nedlands, May 8 1931 and was educated at St Teresa’s School Nedlands and St Charles Seminary, Guildford, Western Australia and Brignole-Sale Seminary in Genoa, Italy.
Ordained on 12 September 1954 in Nedlands over the next 11 years he served as Assistant Priest at West Perth, then Highgate on 16 October 1959 where his fluency in Italian was put to great effect.
In 1965, Fr Toop learnt the local Aboriginal language and became well-known for his pastoral and other care of the Aborigines. In September 1979, Fr Toop was appointed Parish Priest of Osborne Park where he was responsible for building the new St Kieran’s Church. In 1985, he volunteered to serve in Geraldton and later served as Parish Priest of Northam, Parish Priest of Highgate and Vicar for Clergy.
Fr Michael Casey
Michael Casey was born at Firies, Ireland on August 6 1925.
He commenced studies at All Hallows College in June 1946, after studying dairy science in Limerick, and was ordained All Hallows for the Archdiocese of Perth on June 21 1954.
From 1956 -1966 he served as Assistant Priest at Nedlands, which included the Carmelite Monastery and the Sunset Old Men’s Home, Dalkeith.
In May1966, he was appointed Parish Priest of Merredin, building a new church dedicated to Our Lady and a new presbytery. St Mary’s Church was dedicated by Bishop Eamon Casey and opened debt-free.
Fr Casey was appointed Parish Priest of South Perth on 15 August 1979 where he still serves. His non-parochial duties over the years have included membership of the Council of Priests, successive terms as a Diocesan Consulter and the Retired Priests Accommodation Fund. Fr Casey was so esteemed by Archbishop Goody that he served as his Executor.
Fr Henry Byrne
Thomas Henry Bryne (known as HENRY) was born at Hallyhale, Ireland on November 29 1931. His parents were Michael and Josephine Byrne and his elder brother Michael RIP was ordained for the Archdiocese of Perth.
His Priestly studies were at St Kieran’s Seminary, Kilkenny and he was ordained for Perth in Kilkenny on June 3 1956.
He arrived in Perth in December 1956 and over the next 14 years served as Assistant Priest at Maylands, Assistant Priest at Kalgoorlie, Assistant Priest at Shenton Park – which also included Chaplaincy to the Repatriation Hospital for Veterans – Assistant Priest at South Perth and Assistant Priest at Claremont, which included chaplaincy to the Mental Hospital and Migrant Hostel. From February 1970 – 2001 he held the positions of Priest-In-Charge at Beverley, Parish Priest of Lynwood-Langford and Parish Priest of Scarborough from 1985 to his retirement in March 2001.
Since his retirement, he has assisted in North Beach parish and celebrated his 50th Anniversary of Ordination there on 11 June 2006.
Fr Brian Gerard Harris
Brian Gerard Harris was born in Perth May 19 1930 attending St Mary’s Primary School in Leederville and CBC Leederville until he was recruited by Dr Goody, later Archbishop, the Rector of St Charles Seminary, Guildford. His theological studies were at St Patrick’s College, Manly, New South Wales.
He was ordained to the Priesthood in St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, on July 23 1953. Over the next ten years he was on the staff of St Mary’s Cathedral where he was given charge of St Francis Xavier Church, East Perth, chaplaincy at Royal Perth Hospital, and Assistant Priest at Shenton Park before a stint as Assistant Priest in Kalgoorlie.
In 1962, Fr Harris was appointed Assistant Priest in Osborne Park. From 1964-1967, he was Assistant Priest of South Perth and in 1967, was appointed Parish Priest of Armadale and then Spearwood and East Victoria Park where he continues to serve.
Fr Harris enjoys his Chaplaincy work at the East Victoria Park Campus of Ursula Frayne College and is very much appreciated by the staff.
Fr Anton Gordon Hesse
Anton Gordon Hesse was born on July 25 1930 in Colombo, Ceylon now Sri Lanka. He commenced his seminary studies at St Peter’s College and then in 1948 his family migrated to Perth. He studied at St Charles Seminary, Guildford and St Patrick’s College, Manly, New South Wales, being ordained on 6 August 1955.
Fr Hesse was appointed Assistant Priest at Kalgoorlie in 1956 and also served as Assistant Priest at Boulder while on the Goldfields.
In 1960, Fr Hesse was appointed Assistant Priest at East Fremantle, which included Chaplaincy to the Royal Australian Navy’s junior training facility. From 1964 to the late 1970s he worked as Assistant Priest at Scarborough, Priest-in-Charge of Kondinin, Assistant Priest at Highgate, Parish Priest of Mundaring and Administrator of Kelmscott Parish.
From 1977 – 1987 he was Parish Priest of Carlisle and then from February 1987 was Parish Priest of Lockridge. After nearly two and half years of sick leave, he was Administrator of Osborne Park and then Parish Priest of Osborne Park.
He resigned from the Parish in 2000 to be available for supply work in Parishes and is now part-time Chaplain at Mercy Hospital, Mt Lawley.
Mgr Peter McCrann
Peter Francis McCrann was born in Geraldton, Western Australia on July 31 1923.
He entered the workforce at the Commonwealth Bank. In May 1942, he was called up into the Army and served in Dutch New Guinea (West Papua) and then at Morotai.
After the war, he studied economics and banking at the UWA. He was ordained in July 1957 after studies at St Charles Seminary, Guildford and read Theology at St Patrick’s College, Manly, New South Wales. He was appointed to the staff of St Mary’s Cathedral where he remained for 34 years and served as Chaplain to the Nurses’ Guild, The St Vincent de Paul Society, State Council and the Knights of the Southern Cross. He became Chancellor of the Archdiocese in August 1974.
In March 1982, he was appointed a Prelate of Honour to the Pope with the title Monsignor and has served as a member of the Council of Priests and appointed to successive terms as a Consultor from May 1992. He is a Defender of the Bond of the Regional Tribunal of Perth.
Mgr McCrann was appointed Parish Priest of Cottesloe on 1 July 1992, his first appointment as Parish Priest. In February 2004, he was appointed Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Parish, Embleton – a position he has recently retired from.
Fr Eugene McGrath
Eugene McGrath was born on December 18 1929 at Baltorin, Ireland into a devout family in which his elder brother became a Priest and his sister a Member of the Institute of the Congregation of Notre Dame des Missions. He was educated at St Brendan’s College, Killarney and the Irish College, Rome being ordained in Rome on March 13 1954 for Perth.
Fr McGrath arrived in Perth in February 1955 and was appointed Assistant Priest at Queen’s Park. From 1959 – 1967 he served as Priest-In-Charge of Boulder, Assistant Priest at Northam, Assistant Priest at Subiaco, which included Chaplaincy to King Edward Hospital for Women and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
In 1967 – 1990, he served as Parish Priest of Kellerberrin – which included Chaplaincy to the Preventorium for Asthmatic Children – Parish Priest of Rockingham, Parish Priest of Guildford, Parish Priest of Manning.
Fr McGrath was appointed Parish Priest of Bruce Rock on May 19 1990 and then Parish Priest of Merredin and Dean on April 26 1991. In April 1994, Fr McGrath was appointed Parish Priest of Belmont-Redcliffe until his retirement from Parish Ministry. He is currently Chaplain to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged, Glendalough.
Fr John Vere O’Reilly
John Vere O’Reilly was born in Perth on August 13 1927. He was educated at St Joachim’s School, Victoria Park, St Patrick’s School, Perth and St Francis Xavier School, Armadale.
He was ordained to the priesthood on March 1 1958.
From December 1958 to the late 1960s he served as Assistant Priest at Applecross and St Mary’s Cathedral, Chaplain to the All Saints Chapel in the city, Director of Vocations, part-time Chaplain to the Regular Army and Chaplain to the Home of the Good Shepherd.
From 1967 to June 1969, he was Chaplain to Aquinas College while continuing as Vocations Director and Army Chaplain. In June 1969 he was appointed Assistant Priest at Osborne Park and then as Administrator of Nedlands. Fr O’Reilly was Senior Chaplain for the 5th Military District until August 1987 and Parish Priest of St Benedict’s Applecross until his formal retirement on January 31 2003.
He currently serves as part-time Spiritual Director at St Charles Seminary, Guildford and Priest support in spiritual direction, the celebration of Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Catholic Youth Ministry and a number of youth groups.