Biography:
Birth and education
Vincent Gavin Regan was born on September 4, 1931. He was educated at St Thomas Primary school at Goodwood. Vin did all his secondary studies in St Francis Xavier Seminary at Rostrevor.
He found these studies and a rather unpredictable rector difficult to endure. Fr Johnson on one occasion said to him: "Regan, this place is too small for both of us. One of us must go.” God thought so too. Shortly afterwards Fr Johnson was recalled to the Archdiocese of Perth. At his ordination in 1956, Fr Johnson laughingly admitted to having said those words.
He completed his Philosophy studies there before moving to St Patrick’s College, Many NSW. In June 1954 his sister Colleen aged 19, entered the Carmelite Convent at Glen Osmond.
Fr Vin was ordained at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral on July 21, 1956 and after completing his studies at Manly returned to the diocese at the end of November that year. His first appointment was as Assistant Priest at Woodville.
Parish Priest in two years
After only two years of ordination Fr Vin was made Parish Priest of Tailem Bend. This surprised many because even in the more enlightened era of today that would be considered a very short apprenticeship.
Fr Rob Egar was later to write of a conversation he had with Vin about this appointment. He wrote: "I told Vin that it was because of his stability that he had been chosen for Tailem Bend. In retrospect 'stability' seems a niggardly expression. I wished I had said 'serenity, generosity and deep spirituality'. These were the charisms which people recognised instantly in Vincent Regan, the man and the priest."
After eight years there he was appointed in April 1967 to Birdwood – a parish he developed a great love for and he was later to be buried there. While there he served on the Diocesan Pastoral Council as a representative of country priests.
Back to the city
In January 1976 Fr Vin was appointed to Tranmere parish. He took three months long service leave in mid 1977. During his time at Tranmere he was appointed Spiritual Director to the Legion of Mary and he was also a Diocesan Consultor.
In January 1981 he moved to Thebarton parish. He was appointed a member of the Priests Senate (later the Council of Priests), a member of the Diocesan Presbytery Fund Board and the Catholic Schools Commission.
Sister’s death
During 1985 he was saddened by the death of his Carmelite sister Colleen. There is a beautiful passage in his homily at her Funeral Mass where he quotes from a poem by Shaw Neilson: “The young girl stood beside me, I saw not what her young eyes could see. A light, she said, not of the sky lives somewhere in the orange tree.”
Then he comments: "The young girl's experience of sight and sound was not a shared observation. Others were unaware of her vision. They saw an orange tree as did she. The light she alone saw was the orange tree listening to the call of the season, which would transform the blossom into the orange.”
In 1954 the young woman, Colleen, then aged 19 years, made a significant choice. She entered Carmel. Her religious life began here at Glen Osmond. And so, in a very real sense, she too saw a light, she heard a call, and she responded in faith.
Her choice of lifestyle, her vocation was singular and different from that of her contemporaries, and no explanation would remove from some minds a sense of bewilderment and surprise. "I saw not what her young eyes would see".
Vin had a great love of poetry and with it went an extraordinary ability to quietly include this appreciation in his homilies and conference talks.
Gentle counsellor and guide
Fr Vin's gentleness, obvious piety and engaging personality brought many groups to seek his guidance and counselling. This was particularly evident in his work with the Marriage Encounter Movement, with which he developed a strong relationship and was a frequent contributor to their weekend conferences.
Back in 1999, Damian and Joanne Mclnerney provided us with the words of an inspiring talk Vin gave to a Marriage Encounter Group. It is both beautiful and brilliant. In this he speaks of the relationship between his priesthood and the various states of their marital relationship.
He concluded: “And if there are times when human frailty is a bit more obvious than you would want, I am not surprised, and you needn't be concerned that I'd stop loving you, since I love you with God's love which can't be earned and which I've borrowed with his permission. What I love about you right now is that you are mine, you are my spouse.”
Other parishes
In January 1990 Fr Vin was appointed Parish Priest at Modbury – that had a strong connection in times past with the charismatic movement. Fr Vin, being a deeply spiritual person, was a perfect fit for the parish. He remained there until September 1997 when he was moved to Elizabeth South.
Death and lingering memories
But his health was declining and while recuperating from surgery with his classmate Peter McIntyre at the Glenelg presbytery he died suddenly on February 6, 1999. A Vigil Mass was celebrated at Goodwood on February 9, and his Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral the following day. His burial was in the Birdwood Catholic Cemetery.
The vast number that crowded St Francis Xavier's Cathedral for Fr Vin's Funeral Mass was a testament to the high esteem in which he was held by so many. There were seven Bishops, more than 70 priests and more than 1200 people present at that Mass.
Another classmate, Fr Jim Sayers wrote about Vin in 1999: “Vin, how very privileged we were to have you walk among us.” A sentiment surely shared by so many.
May he rest in peace. |
