This is unashamedly a tribute post for who I think was one of the nicest, gentlest, and giving men that the Catholic Church in Melbourne has been blessed to have had as leader. For those of you who are not Australian, let alone from Melbourne, this will be a very perochial blog, and I apologise from the outset if it may not interest many of you.
Having been brought up a Catholic during the reign of Sir Frank, I remember him well. Not only as the leader of the Melbourne Archdiocese, but also family links; though I never knew him personally. At a time when priests and Bishops were either rude, cantankerous, authoritarian, or downright superior, it was refreshing to come across someone with the gentleness, approachability, and humility of Sir Frank.
There are a few defining moments in my memories of Sir Frank that I think sum up who he was as a person, but let me start with the observations of Fr.Peter Norden, former prison chaplain, on Christmas morning at the prison:
“He had presided over the busy midnight mass service at the cathedral, and would appear soon after 8am at the gates of Pentridge prison. Then, after a quick cuppa with the inmates, he would be back to the cathedral for another packed cathedral congregation at 11am.”
This was very true to the spirit of Sir Frank, and sat perfectly with a story my father’s relatives used to tell me. They were housekeepers to the then Archbishop of Melbourne, James Knox. Bishop Frank ,as he was then, would visit regularly. Instead of waiting to be served a meal, he would be out in the kitchen with Archbishop Knox, “whipping up some pasta”.
My personal experience relates to my childhood, and occasions when a Bishop was called on to officiate at a ceremony. The Bishop at the time was known to have a drink…or seven, and was many times unable to attend. Sir Frank always bailed him out, but you’d never know it was an inconvenience. It was always made to look like he was the one meant to be there. The smile, the laughs, the making an effort to greet as many parishioners as he could, said a lot about the man.
My other memory is not a pleasant one, but also summed up the humility of Sir Frank. In 1996, rumours were rife that there was going to be a ‘bloodless coup’ in the Catholic Church in Melbourne with the then Bishop Pell of Melbourne planning to take over as Archbishop. I had never heard anything like it in my life. Within a day, Sir Frank was out, and Pell was in. Rumour has it, Sir Frank’s second-in-charge didn’t even know. Sir Frank cited health reasons, but we all know what happened, and now that power hungry Bishop is the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney. You make up your own mind.
Sir Frank left with grace, and for the last 11 or so years, has been doing what he always did, serving the people of his beloved Melbourne with gentleness, friendliness, and genuine interest. To those of us who liked him, and there are many, he will always be known affectionately as “Frank”.
“May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine bright upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” -Irish Blessing
Rest in Peace, Sir Frank.
Enjoy your day.
