Fr Andrew Killian

Irish Heritage

The life and ministry of Andrew Killian had a significant effect on the Archdiocese of Adelaide. He was one of the last Irish priests to come to Adelaide.  

Andrew Killian was born in Dublin on November 22, 1922. He was educated at Mungret College, Dublin and undertook his theological studies at All Hallows College where he was ordained in June 1947. 

When Andrew arrived here on December 17, 1947 more than half of the priests in the Archdiocese were Irish.   

Father Andrew Killian followed a family tradition when he volunteered for Adelaide. An Uncle, Father Pat, was a well-known priest at Broken Hill in the Wilcannia Forbes Diocese.  

Another uncle, Andrew, was a priest, and later Bishop of Port Augusta. In 1934 he was appointed Archbishop of Adelaide.  Archbishop Andrew Killian died in 1939. Another significant family member was Sister M. Baptist, a Sister of Mercy of Wilcannia Forbes.

Family ties

The arrival from Ireland of his mother, five sisters and a brother in 1949 had a profound influence on Fr Andrew. Following the death of the father of the family in Dublin, a family decision was made to migrate to Adelaide. Archbishop Matthew Beovich, with the help of Father Bill Russell, provided the Killians with a large house, part of the newly acquired property at Findon.

Later, this was the site of Our Lady of the Manger, Church and School, and Siena College.

His family provided great support for Andrew and, as the eldest son, he assumed leadership and responsibility for his mother and brother and sisters. One daughter, Betty, left for Sydney where she joined the Sisters of Our Lady Help of Christians. Many priests who studied at Manly would know Sister Paul. All the Killians over a period of 60 years have been great members of the Church family in Adelaide.

Appointments

Father Andrew Killian served as Assistant Priest at the Cathedral, Parkside (Feb 1962) and Semaphore (May 1957). He is remembered for his devotion to the sick and for pastoral visitation of the people in their own homes. Despite being rather reserved, he was a good chaplain to the NCGM and YCW in Parkside and Semaphore. Even to this day, he is well remembered for his sincerity.

Father Andrew was appointed Parish Priest of the newly rearranged parish of Greenacres-Enfield on January 9, 1959. Initially he lived in Northfield, but soon he moved into his Presbytery at Muller’s Road, Manningham, near to St Martins Church, Greenacres.

Esteemed qualities

This seems to have been the best period of his Priestly Ministry according to some people who knew him well. One lady described him as a “faithful pastor”. She said he was “always there when people needed him”. He had a great love for sick people, was attentive to the Northfield Hospital, was well remembered by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and was “lovely to children”.  People remembered the way he and his people welcomed displaced persons and migrants.

Father Killian lived next door to Mr & Mrs Dominic McEvoy and their family. He arranged for his telephone to be switched to the McEvoy’s house while he was out. It was the best answering service in the Archdiocese!

His family often visited him at his presbytery. His mother would often stay the weekend with her “priest son” and is well remembered by the older parishioners. They used to describe the Killian family as “beautiful people”.

During these years Andrew appreciated the company of his brother priests. On Mondays he would meet them for tennis or for golf. He was a member of the Kooyonga Golf Club for many years. He took golf seriously, but he sprayed many shots into inhospitable territory!  Nevertheless, after a shower and a cup of tea Andy would be quite civil!

Fellow priests would often go to his family home at Henley Beach after tennis for innumerable cups of Irish tea provided by Mrs Killian.  Andy also appreciated classical music and a “good talk”.

The pause that refreshes

After nearly 20 years of ministry in parishes of Adelaide, Father Andrew Killian made an extended visit to Ireland in 1966. This was a very emotional time for Andy but satisfying and necessary. He spent time with Uncles and Aunts and cousins and other family connections and visited Mungret College and All Hallows College, Dublin where he met his former teachers and professors as well as some priests with whom he had studied.

He returned to his Parish of Enfield/Greenacres with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.

Death came suddenly

Father Killian’s sudden death caused great sadness, especially to his family and his parish family. He died on the morning of February 23, 1968 at the age of 45. On that day he followed his usual routine. He was up before six o’clock, drove to the Church, opened up the Church and made preparations for Mass. He then took Holy Communion to the Northfield Wards of the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Then he usually drove directly to the Church for morning Mass.

That morning he must have felt ill because he drove directly to the presbytery where he was found dead in his car in the driveway. He died of a heart attack.

In the midst of death and family

Father Andrew Killian was one of the few Irish priests to have his mother, brother and sisters with him for many years of his priestly ministry in Adelaide.  

The Killian family not only gave love and support to their priest son and brother, but they have also lived and witnessed to their Catholic faith in our local Church as have so many other Irish families. 

Requiem Mass was celebrated on February 26, 1968 in the Holy Family Church, Enfield, in the presence of his dear family and many priests and people, not only of Enfield/Greenacres, but also from other parishes in which Father Killian had served. There was also a group of Irish people, special friends of Father Andy and his family.

Fr Andrew was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.