LONG-TIME South Dubbo residents will be remembering the white-haired Catholic priest who reached out to the young and old, disadvantaged and needy, almost always with a little dog by his side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Father John Beaven, parish priest of South Dubbo from 1994 until his retirement in 2005, will be farewelled at a Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of St Laurence O'Toole in Tamworth Street at 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Bishop Michael McKenna of the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst will attend the mass along with its faithful and clergy.
His counterpart in the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, Bishop Ian Palmer, is sending a priest to the mass in recognition of Father Beaven's work in the Aboriginal community.
Father Beaven died on June 25 at the age of 82 and in the "52nd year of his priesthood".
Diagnosed with dementia, he had been a resident of aged care facility Holy Spirit Dubbo for about 12 months.
Former St Brigid's parish priest Father Mark McGuigan has returned to Dubbo from a new posting at Lithgow to oversee the funeral of his "good" and "loyal" friend.
On Tuesday he told the Daily Liberal of Father Beaven's service throughout the diocese and his leadership of liturgy reform.
"He was recently given an award by the diocese for his work in the liturgy," Father McGuigan said
"He was a person who had a real love for the mass."
Sydney-born Richard John Beaven dabbled in the world of banking before being ordained at the age of 30 at St Mary's Cathedral by Sir Norman Thomas Gilroy, the first Australian-born cardinal of the Catholic Church.
He served many communities including Bathurst, Orange, Canowindra, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Mudgee, Wellington, Coolah, Kandos, Cowra and Lithgow.
The year before his final appointment to South Dubbo, the priest of "Aboriginal descent" was chaplain for Indigenous residents of the diocese.
Father McGuigan said Father Beaven was also an accomplished musician, experienced traveller, enthusiastic host, good cook and dog lover.
"His dogs were originally corgis and they always had the name Lucy," he said.
"His last dog was a little shih tzu which he took with him into the nursing home at Holy Spirit."
Bishop McKenna confirmed Father Beaven's receipt in December of the inaugural Margaret Press rsj Liturgy Award.
"John received this award for his involvement in the liturgical life of the diocese, the contribution to the promotion of the liturgy and its understanding by the faithful, throughout the diocese and the wider church," Bishop McKenna said.
"He will be sadly missed."
Father Beaven is survived by sister Patricia Harris.
He will be buried at Dubbo's Western District Memorial Park after which light refreshments will be served at the St Laurence's Primary School hall in South Dubbo.
