Biography:
Early life and membership of the initial group of 24
Anthony Boylan was born on February 18, 1929 at Prospect. He received his early education at the Rosary School at Prospect, and then at Christian Brothers College, first at Ovingham and later at Wakefield Street.
Father Anthony Boylan had an important link with St Francis Xavier Seminary, as he was one of the initial group of 24 students who began their formation at the Seminary on January 31, 1942. Of the 24 students, most of whom were young boys when they began their studies at that time, eight were ordained Priests and those who left the Seminary as laymen have made a great contribution to the Church and South Australia.
Ordination in a period of plenty
Father Boylan was ordained by Archbishop Matthew Beovich on July 27, 1952, together with Father Terry Holland, a fellow student at Manly, and with Father Robin Sutherland and Father Robert Aitken who studied at Corpus Christi College, Werribee. These men always had an important link with the Archdiocese of Adelaide, a “flourishing diocese in the 1950's". These Priests were among more than 30 ordained by the end of the decade of the 50s and, together, had a great influence on the enormous changes that were taking place in South Australia at that time.
Father Anthony Boylan gave example and leadership in his Priestly Ministry, described later as “pastoral care which flows from the Eucharist in the lives of Priests". This pastoral love found expression in Mount Gambier (1953 – 56), Woodville (1956) and Goodwood (1957- 8) where he was Assistant Priest. In January 1959, he was appointed Parish Priest at Bordertown and in July 1963 Parish Priest of Naracoorte. Through most of 1965 he took leave due to ill-health.
Life-long ministry of healing
In March 1966, he began a very significant phase of his ministry when appointed Parish Priest of Lower North Adelaide. Here, Father Anthony Boylan exercised his pastoral love in a special way at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital where he was Chaplain for 27 years. Thousands of children and their parents, doctors and nurses, hospital employees and administrative staff all knew and respected Father Boylan. He visited the hospital several times every week. He was also the Chaplain to the nearby Memorial Hospital.
At his death, Doctor Brian Fotheringham, Director of Medical Services for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital said: “He was a tremendous support to the thousands of patients, parents and staff over the 27 years he served as Chaplain for the Hospital and he will be sorely missed.”.
During that time Father Boylan was honoured in many ways at the Hospital: (a) He received a life membership of the Adelaide Children’s Hospital during the Centenary Year 1976; (b) He was appointed Chairman of the Research – Ethics Committee of the Hospital; (c) He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1989 “for services to children as Chaplain, Adelaide Children’s Hospital".
With failing health Fr Boylan resigned as Chaplain at the Hospital on August 28, 1993 and died at Mary Potter Hospice on September 4. A Vigil Mass was celebrated at Lower North Adelaide and the Funeral Mass was in St Francis Xavier's Cathedral on September 8, 1993. His remains were interred at the Centennial Park Cemetery.
Final tributes
A few of the many notices in The Advertiser show the respect and love for Father Tony at the time of his death:
“The staff of the Australian Cranio-Facial Unit are deeply saddened to lose a dear friend who taught courage and gave us all hope. You radiated warmth and happiness and added significantly to our role of caring.”
“You will be sadly missed but never forgotten. You were the inspiration to so many: highly dedicated, tireless in your efforts. Your joy was a gift of healing for the patients we treated. You have enriched us all.”
So much of his character and spirituality and love for people came from his parents and brothers and sisters, and also from his nephews and nieces, and grand-nephews and nieces.
Archbishop Faulkner said: “It was my privilege to live for some years in the same parish and to know his mother and father and family. He received from them his faith, and, especially, some endearing characteristics and mannerisms from his father. The love and guidance of the Dominican Sisters at Rosary School Prospect (over the back fence from their home), and the Christian Brothers at CBC Ovingham and CBC Wakefield Street who supported his parents in giving faith and love and grace to Father Tony, all were an influence on his genuine practical Priestly ministry.
“The Priests of the Archdiocese and of the Diocese of Port Pirie remember Father Tony for his spirit of joy and cheerfulness referred to in the tributes from the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Some of us remember his great respect for the newly arrived Polish families in Royal Park and for many other displaced persons who came to live there and in nearby suburbs. His method of making contact with them and of visiting them in their homes was respectful and unique.
“Daily Mass was important to Father Tony during his 41 years as a priest – as it is to every priest. Until a few days before his death, Father Tony was privileged to concelebrate the Eucharist with Father Jim Tuohy in the Mary Potter Hospice and Mass was celebrated in his room up to the day of his death.”
May he rest in the peace of Christ.
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