On August 22 a special morning tea was held in the Cathedral Presbytery for Fr Jim Petry who recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
Present were Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, Bishop Donald Sproxton, Monsignor Michael Keating and many priests who for years played tennis, every Monday, with Fr Jim.
The group also played in tournaments of clergy in Geraldton and Busselton.
These priests became very much a support group for each other.
Around 12 Priests still play tennis on Monday mornings and other priests are welcome to come.
Among long standing members of this group going back almost fifty years, were Fr Richard Doyle and Fr Tim Foster and many others who have come and gone including religious priests.
Some past members of the group played well into their late seventies and early eighties. Jesuit Fr Ferdie Marlow was one of these.
At the morning tea, Mgr Keating spoke about the long and varied life of Fr Jim. Almost 50 years was spent in the Archdiocese of Perth and the Diocese of Bunbury.
Fr Jim spoke movingly of his time in the British Army as a chaplain in Korea in the 1950s. For this service he was awarded a MBE by the Queen for his wonderful care of the soldiers.
Fr Jim, originally from England, had two brothers who were also priests – one a Jesuit missionary in South America – the other a canon of the Brentwood diocese in England.
Fr Jim had two special farewell Masses at Wilson Parish on July 27 and 28. After ten years there, Fr Jim’s place has been taken by Fr Kevin Cummins.
At all these gatherings, many people showed the respect and love in which Fr Jim has been held in many places.
Through it all and despite the limitations that advancing age has put on his activity, he has retained a keen sense of humour.