FR John Davine, Warragul, celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood on September 21. Although “retired” from parish duties for more than a decade, he continues to say weekend Masses in Warragul and Drouin parishes, and also celebrates Mass three or four mornings a week at the diocesan headquarters, Sion House.
Sixty years in the priesthood has not dimmed his enthusiasm for being part of the faith journey of parishioners. He was raised in Warragul, and almost followed the family tradition of a legal profession, but withdrew from legal studies at Melbourne University to follow his desire to become a priest and serve the people.
He initially joined the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, doing his novitiate at Sorrento in 1952, and then he moved to Ireland to study at the Oblate seminary at Piltown, Kilkenny, and was ordained a priest there in 1958. He returned to Australian and served in Oblate parishes at Sorrento, then South Australia and Queensland before returning to Moe in Gippsland.
After 18 months there he left the Oblates and became a diocesan priest for Sale Diocese in June 1965. He served in various parishes all over the diocese, the last one before retiring to lighter duties was at Wonthaggi. Fr Davine had two parish celebrations, one at Neerim South and the other at Warragul.
At Neerim South parishioners gathered in the local hotel after the Saturday evening Mass and the children from St Joseph’s Chorale sang him a blessing. Next day at Warragul there was a barbecue lunch at the Marian Room at St Joseph’s Church attended by about 130 people.
This story first appeared in Catholic Life.
