Fr Thomas Joseph Maloney

Early background

Thomas Joseph Maloney was born in Kilcullane, Co. Limerick on April 1, 1890. He was educated for the priesthood at Thurles College and ordained at Thurles on June 13, 1915.

He came to Australia a few months later and arrived in the Archdiocese of Adelaide on December 1 that year. He had an uncle a priest in Adelaide, Monsignor Hourigan, who was ordained in 1882 and served in Adelaide from 1883 till 1951 – 68 years, and he died at the age of 92, as indeed did Fr Maloney in 1973, also after 68 years of priesthood.

Appointments

Fr Maloney’s first appointment was to Mount Gambier, which was a bit of a shock as he had never driven a car before. It was a steep learning curve, especially as he got a flat tyre on one of his first drives.

After four years in the Mount he was appointed ‘locum tenens’ at Manoora parish where he stayed for six months while the local parish priests was on leave. In March 1920 he was appointed Assistant Priest at Goodwood. After two years he moved to Balaklava as parish priest where he stayed for 10 years. It was probably here that he developed a love for coursing, which was a popular sport in the mid-north area. While at Balaklava he was responsible for building a new school and presbytery.

Kapunda

On January 1, 1932 he was appointed parish priest of Kapunda, which turned out to be the longest time as parish priest.  While there he was responsible for the building of a magnificent church of St Rose which stands out as a dominant feature on the hill, near the earlier church of St Rose built in 1866. The new church was opened in 1938 and the old church was demolished in 1947.

The Dominican Convent, classrooms and Parish Hall stood nearby.

In Kapunda Fr Maloney was remembered as a very prayerful man, always to be seen praying in the church at least half an hour before daily Mass. His love of coursing was also evident here, and he had two greyhounds which he took for a walk every morning and was quite successful in racing them, though he always competed in the name of one of the parishioners.

He never lost his great love of Ireland and one of the memorable features of his time at Kapunda was the annual St Patrick’s Day Sports, with a street parade of decorated cars and horse-drawn floats, the Irish dancing competitions, bike races, the National sheaf-tossing championships and an array of other sporting activities.

He took an extended holiday to Ireland in April 1947. During his absence for 12 months he was replaced by Fr Patrick Walsh.

Although he had the title of ‘RI’ after his name, meaning “Rector Irremovable” and signifying an indefinite appointment, he was on February 1, 1956 appointed Parish Priest of Colonel Light Gardens.  

In April 1957 he took another extended holiday to Ireland. On his return he once again undertook the building of a beautiful new church, St Teresa’s, no mean feat for a man already aged 70 years. 

Retirement

On April 22, 1973 he retired as parish priest and took up residence at Beovich Villa at Lourdes Valley with the title of Pastor Emeritus. He was one of the first residents of Beovich Villa and he remained here for 10 years until he died in the Infirmary March 1, 1983, after 68 years of priesthood and nearly 93 years of age.

Requiem Mass was celebrated two days later in the St Teresa’s Church, Colonel Light Gardens and he was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery. (By coincidence his sister in Ireland died the same day, March 1, 1983, aged 90 years.)

In his homily at the Funeral Mass Archbishop Gleeson acknowledged his long and zealous ministry in the Archdiocese, and that Fr Maloney had touched the life of his own Gleeson family when he was parish priest at Balaklava.

The Archbishop said: “In some ways he was not easy to get to know well. But those who did, knew him as a great sportsman, a genial host, the patriotic Irishman and above all as a great priest and a man of prayer. With all his simplicity and directness he gave himself continually to the Lord.” He always had a great friendship will fellow Irish priests, especially Mgrs Dunne and Skehan.

May his gentle soul rest in the peace of the Lord.