Fr David Anthony Abfalter

Early Life

David Anthony Abfalter was born on June 26, 1931 at Rose Park in Adelaide. He received his early education at St Joseph’s School, Kingswood, and then at Rostrevor College, Woodforde. In 1948 he commenced his studies for the priesthood at St Francis Xavier Seminary, Rostrevor, and then went to St Patrick’s College, Manly, NSW.

He was ordained priest in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on July 28, 1954. On returning to Adelaide from Manly he was appointed assistant priest at Salisbury parish where he remained until the end of January 1960. During this time, in August 1957, he was appointed part-time Air Force Chaplain to the Edinburgh Air Base. He continued in this role till September 1962.

On February 1, 1960 he was appointed parish priest to the newly formed parish of Elizabeth North. Setting up a new parish, particularly one with a predominantly English migrant population was not an easy task, but he did it well and remained there for nine years until February 1969 when he was appointed parish priest of Millicent. He remained there until January 29, 1975 when he was appointed parish priest of Murray Bridge.

Diocesan appointments

During this time he undertook a number of other roles in the Archdiocese. In February 1977 he was elected to the Senate of Priests. In December 1978 he was elected Chairman of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee which he held for two years. In June 1979 he was appointed a member of the Diocesan Consultors for a three-year term, and in 1982 he was re-appointed for a further term of three years. In July 1979 he was elected a member of the Diocesan Presbytery Fund Board of Management, a position he held for two terms until 1985.

In August 1979 he took long service leave for four months and travelled overseas. And then in January 1981, after suffering from ill-health which limited his driving ability he was appointed parish priest of Tranmere – a position he held for nine years. During this time he developed a number of initiatives in the parish. One of these was that he encouraged parishioners to become involved with the students at St Francis Xavier Seminary, especially those from interstate, by inviting them to family meals from time to time.

He was also noted for his hospitality towards fellow priests in the area, frequently inviting them to meals. And he was always ready to offer a place of respite for priests recovering from illness.

It was not surprising then that in February 1981 he was again elected a member of the Senate of Priests and then also as the Senate Representative on the Diocesan Pastoral Council which held for two years. Then in 1985 he was re-appointed for a further term of three years.

He was quite ecumenically minded and was active in the formation of the Magill Inter-Church Council. Within the parish he re-converted the parish hall from an open-plan classroom back to being a hall to be used for parish meetings, social events, dinners, dances etc.

Final placement

In January 1990 he was appointed parish priest of Parkside which he held for just one year because in the following on January 28 he died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Raphael’s Church, Parkside, and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery. His funeral cortege was memorable in that there were police stationed at every intersection to ensure safe passage – the Police Commissioner at the time was a former parishioner and Chair of the Parish Council in the Tranmere Parish.

May he rest in peace.