Born on 10 August 1912 in Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland, John Joseph Rafferty was baptised on 12 August in the Church of St Flannan.
His parents Patrick and Ellen Rafferty educated their son at St Flannan’s College in Ennis, followed by St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny.
While studying at St Kieran’s, John Rafferty was accepted for ministry in the Archdiocese of Adelaide but near the end of his seminary studies, found he was no longer required.
He approached then Archbishop Redmond Prendiville of Perth while the bishop was visiting St Kieran’s and an agreement was reached whereby Adelaide loaned John Rafferty to Perth for a short period.
The arrangement, however, resulted in John Rafferty providing Perth with long-term and valued service.
John Rafferty was subsequently ordained at St Kieran’s College on 25 April 1936, arriving in Perth on 21 July that same year.
In describing his earliest recollection of the priest, Archbishop Prendiville recalled Fr Rafferty as ‘a fine type of young Irish priest’, who had ‘already made a favourable impression’.
Fr Rafferty’s priestly life began at St Mary’s Cathedral following which he was appointed to a number of responsible positions.
During his 21st year in Perth, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop to the Archbishop of Perth and ordained on 26 October 1955.
The motto chosen by the new Auxiliary Bishop was ‘We Fly to Thy Patronage’.
Derived from the oldest Marian prayer known to the Church, with origins in either the third or fourth century, the motto also belonged to Perth’s Bishops Martin Griver and Matthew Gibney.
It was further appropriate as the Archdiocese of Perth remained under the patronage of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
In addition to the traditional emblems, Bishop Rafferty’s episcopal banner acknowledged his Irish heritage and new-found home. It included the shamrocks, a symbol of Ireland, and the Western Australian Kangaroo paw.
As a newly-elected bishop, John Rafferty revealed his belief in a joint heritage when he spoke at an anniversary celebration for the Polish Community during which he exhorted the people to learn English and Australian customs.
They were also encouraged to always remember their Polish origins, with a wealth of beautiful traditions behind them.
Bishop Rafferty died suddenly on 6 January 1962, on the day before he was due to return to Perth, in his hometown of Killaloe and is buried in the grounds of St Flannan’s Church.
A member of the clergy wrote describing the funeral to Prendiville: ‘The number of clergy present showed that wherever the late Bishop travelled he made friends.’
The Boardroom at Griver House is named after Bishop Rafferty in honour of his valued service.