John was born in 1914 in Wallsend, NSW, and after completing his primary education at St Patrick’s Convent School, under the Sisters of Mercy, he completed his secondary education at St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst (1927-1931).

He joined the Vincentians in March 1932 and was ordained a Priest at St Patrick’s College, Manly on 20 July 1938.

He left almost immediately for Ireland and studied at University College, Dublin, gaining a Master of Arts and a Diploma of Education. Because of the danger of travel during the War years he remained in Ireland until August 1945, teaching at St Patrick’s Seminary, Armagh and at All Hallows’ College, Drumcondra. On his return to Australia in September 1945, he took up a teaching post at St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst. He remained there until early 1948 when he went to Perth as the first Vincentian Rector of St Charles’ Seminary at Guildford.

John spent much of his priestly life in the Seminary and formation apostolate: eleven years at St Charles’ Seminary, Perth, six years at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, three years at Christ the King Seminary, Scoresby, two years at Collège St Joseph, Beirut, and fourteen years at Vianney College, Wagga. He taught at St Stanislaus’ College for four years, and was Chaplain at Macquarie University in the period 1967-1972.

The other main area of his priestly work was that of Missions, Retreats and relief work in parishes, to which he devoted ten years of his life.

The last three years of his life was spent at Malvern during which, despite badly failing eyesight, he busied himself preparing a short history on the Vincentian presence and work in Fiji. This Mission was begun by him during his time as Visitor (1958-1964).

If he had a hobby, it appears to have been history. He was an active member of the Australian Catholic Historical Society and published a number of papers in their Journal. He also contributed articles on Fr Maurice O’Reilly CM and Fr Joseph Slattery CM to the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

John was, as I saw him, a perfectionist, and it may have been this which urged him to research and write historical material. He disliked sloppiness of thought, lack of precision in expression and was given to pursuing the finer details of any matter with a doggedness that few could match.

Such attention to detail and orderliness hallmarked his life, from the details of his daily programme of prayer and work, to the time of his annual Retreat and holidays.

We give thanks to God for John’s life and service in the Congregation, given so unstintingly for more than seventy years, and we express our sympathy and condolences to the members of his wider family, and particularly to his nephew, Gerry  (Fr Gerard Wilkinson CM)."

Fr Greg Cooney CM