Mgr William Joseph Russell

Introduction

The Priestly Ministry of William Joseph Russell spanned the years of the Great Depression, the War years, the arrival of many displaced persons in Adelaide and the migrant influx from Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

William Russell was born in Goolds Cross, Co. Tipperary. He studied for the priesthood at Mt Melleray and then at St Patrick's College, Thurles, where he was ordained priest on June 13, 1931. He arrived in Adelaide on October 24, 1931.

Early appointments

His first appointment was to the Holy Cross Parish, Goodwood, where he became friends with Monsignor Michael Hourigan who was the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, a very influential priest and a great character! At this time he was appointed Diocesan Examiner and Inspector of Catholic Schools.

In 1939, after 12 months at Teacher's Training College in Ascot Vale, Victoria, the young Fr Russell was appointed Director of Catholic Education in Adelaide. He had already done tertiary studies in Ireland during his preparation for the priesthood.

As Director of Education

As Director, he had the use of a small office and one secretary. Many teaching Sisters and Brothers experienced his pastoral encouragement. He also negotiated with the authorities in the State Education Department for recognition of Catholic Schools, for the rights of Catholic school children to travel on school buses and the recognition of Catholic school teachers. Later he negotiated with Archbishop Beovich for the young Fr James Gleeson to do a teacher training course in Melbourne.

As Parish Priest of Woodville

In 1948, Fr Russell was appointed parish priest of the newly established parish of Woodville with territory taken from the Carmelite parish of Port Adelaide and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart parish of Hindmarsh. Father Bill Collins was appointed his assistant priest.

This parish was soon to be known as "the Diocese".  When Fr Russell arrived, there was a Church and a school at Woodville Park and a school at Albert Park. Within a few years of his appointment to the parish there were six Mass centres and five Catholic schools at Woodville, Albert Park, Royal Park, Findon and Seaton. In August 1949, Fr Russell went on an extended visit to Ireland – his first in almost 18 years.

There was huge development taking place in the parish, including two of South Australia's biggest Housing Trust areas. The displaced persons from Europe and migrants were taking up blocks extensively in the Royal Park, Seaton and Albert Park areas.

Providing makeshift Mass centres

Father Russell maintained that the Catholic community had a pastoral obligation to provide a Mass Centre/Catholic school for people, especially migrants, before they moved into an area. As there was little money available, Fr.Russell would buy very humble buildings to establish a Church presence in new areas.

The first building in Royal Park was an old wood and iron house. Our Lady of the Manger Church at Findon was a chaff shed.  The first Church at Seaton/Gleneagles was a shed from the Findon property which was reassembled. 

The parish has fond memories of the small mixed communities which gathered for Sunday Mass in very makeshift churches, reminding us of the first Christian communities described in the Acts of the Apostles. Archbishop Beovich was frequently in the parish for the blessing and opening of something new!

In addition to the parish, the establishment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the 1950s put pressure on Fr Russell and his assistant priests. Father Russell built St Joseph's Church next to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital land to be easily accessible by the nursing staff and some walking patients.

The embarrassing dignity of Monsignor

At this time, the title of Monsignor was conferred on Fr Russell by Pope Pius XII. He was somewhat embarrassed by this honour and had difficulty in communicating it to his three assistant priests.

Monsignor Russell faced all these challenges with serenity and trust in God. A secret of his serenity was that he switched off at 9pm with a comfortable chair, a pipe, a glass of whisky (Australian, as he could not afford Scotch) and a good book – usually Irish history. The Curates knew well to say simply "good evening" to Monsignor when they came in and nothing more!

Sports afficianado

He was interested in sport, especially in Irish Hurling. There was a large photograph of Cristy Ring in his room. He also played golf every Monday and quite frequently he would have a quiet game on a Friday –  "to get ready for the Sunday".  He was very popular among the members at Kooyonga and achieved increased justice for Catholic schools by inviting people from the State Education department to play golf with him – followed by a discussion on our schools' needs!

Consultor, VG, Senate of Priests

Monsignor Bill Russell had an influence far beyond the Woodville parish. He was a Diocesan Consultor and was a true leader among the priests – especially the Irish priests – together with Monsignor Harry Skehan. Archbishop Beovich appointed them joint Vicars-General during the Second Vatican Council. The Foundation Stone of St Teresa's Church, Brighton, was placed and blessed by Monsignor William Russell V.G in 1964.

On May 10, 1967 he was appointed a member of the Adelaide Senate of Priests (later the Council of Priests), set up by Archbishop Beovich following the Second Vatican Council.

Death and legacy

Monsignor William Joseph Russell died on August 21, 1969 at the age of 65 years whilst still parish priest of Woodville. His funeral Mass was in Mater Dei church, Woodville, the only church he built. He had built many church schools or temporary churches, but Mater Dei was the church he loved.

Monsignor Russell was a gentle and generous man. During the 30 years he was parish priest he had about a dozen assistant priests. And, they all loved him. It was a real privilege for them to share in his ministry. He was a great friend of Fr Tom Daly who shared the Woodville Presbytery before he built a Presbytery at Croydon.

It was a tradition that the Woodville priests (four in all for several years) would go to Croydon for lunch once a week and the Croydon priests (two) would be guests of Monsignor Russell. The younger priests learned so much about the tradition of the local church and about "being priests" from those lunches. They were still the days when the parish priests dominated the conversation and Curates were "to be seen and not heard".

Monsignor Russell formed lasting friendships with the Sisters of St Joseph, Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Sisters and with parishioners. Families would come to see him from Goodwood, Largs Bay and St Peters – as well as people from his own parish.

Virtue of poverty

He was generous with his personal income and did not have much money. He had to sell his car and borrow extensively from other priests to go to Ireland on his home visit in 1956.

The assistant priests were careful in his absence to build up the parish priest’s account. But on his return home, Monsignor insisted that the whole amount be divided among the three assistant priests, while he borrowed again from his priest-friends to purchase a car. Many a family experienced similar generosity from their kindly pastor.

Involving others in ministry

Monsignor Russell gave real pastoral responsibility to his assistant priests. Assistant priests were each given care of Albert Park, Royal Park or Findon-Seaton – and they were held to account for their stewardship. He remained the parish priest of the whole parish.

His care of the displaced persons and migrants was notable, not only in the parish but also on a diocesan level. He was quick to introduce the "national chaplains" to their people: Father Joe Kuczmanski (Polish), Father Dimitrius Kaczmar (Ukrainian), Father Fazekas (Hungarian), Father John Baron SVD (German), Father Jatulis (Lithuanian) and others. Both Father Fazekas and Father Baron lived for a time at the Woodville Presbytery.

He provided Catholic Schools with the help of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sisters of Mercy and the Dominican Sisters. The assistant priests well remember the "bus run" every morning to collect children. Religious Instruction in State schools was a big undertaking. Monsignor arranged a Redemptorist Mission (five weeks) for at least four consecutive years to strengthen the faith of our people and to help many practise their faith and hand it on to their children.

A many-faceted pioneer

As Archbishop Faulkner recalls: “Monsignor William Joseph Russell will be remembered for his pioneering ministry in Catholic Education and for his pioneering pastoral care of his people – especially of the displaced persons and migrants who settled in the Woodville parish.

Possibly his greatest contribution was the generous and patient care of the priests entrusted to him. All my priestly life, I have thanked God for the six and a half years with Fr Russell in my first appointment as a priest.

May he rest in peace.