Fr Edward (Ted) Griffiths

Early life

Edward Michael Griffith was born on January 1, 1910 in Ballygowan, Claremorris, Co Mayo in Ireland. He was one of 10 children in the Griffiths family. His early schooling was received at Koilmore National School and later at Sacred Heart College, Ballinafad. During the years of his schooling he became known by the name Griffiths. On September 1, 1927 he was enrolled at St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny where he completed his secondary education. This was both a lay school and an ecclesiastical college. Edward continued his studies here preparing for the priesthood. He was ordained priest in St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny on June 9, 1935. Edward had a younger brother, John Vincent who was ordained priest in June 1941. He had an uncle, also Edward Griffiths, who was ordained in 1892 and served in California. He died in 1906, aged only 40 years.

While in College Edward was a very good Gaelic footballer and during the mid 1930’s played for the Mayo Senior Team which a year after left for Australia won the All-Ireland title. Edward was also a keen fisherman and hunter and also liked working with leather. Family members in Ireland still have examples of his work.

Appointments

Fr Edward travelled to Australia aboard the SS Esperance Bay and arrived in Adelaide on November 13, 1935 and, as was the case with most newly arrived priests, his first appointment was as Assistant Priest at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.  In April 1938 he was transferred to Goodwood parish where he remained as Assistant Priest for seven years.  While there he was chaplain to the Dominican Convent and Cabra College.

On July 1, 1945 he was appointed Assistant at Naracoorte and in the following year he was granted leave to return for a holiday to Ireland. He was away for nine months and soon after his return was appointed initially as ‘locum tenens’ and then as Parish Priest at Snowtown on September 22, 1949, which at that time was still part of the Adelaide Archdiocese.

During 1954 he again took leave returning to Ireland for an extended visit. During this visit he attended the wedding of his sister Christina to John Connolly. His brother Fr John Vincent was the celebrant. He was away for the whole year and on his return in December he was appointed Priest in Charge of the new parish of Blackwood/Belair. This growing area had been part of the Kingswood parish. Fr Griffiths was seen as a ‘real character’ and did much to bring the parish together as a community with an active social life. Fr Ted was genuinely loved by his parishioners. But after only two years he was summarily withdrawn, to the great disappointment of parishioners.

In December 1956 he was appointed Priest in Charge of the Birdwood parish where he remained for only two months before being appointed Assistant Priest in the Keswick parish.  He remained there for only a year before returning to the Cathedral parish again as Assistant Priest. During his two years there he acted as Chaplain at the Royal Adelaide, Wakefield Street, St Andrews and Parkwynd hospitals where he was greatly admired and loved by the nursing staff, not only for his Irish charm but also for his gentle care of patients. In this and in other ways he was a great example to the younger priests on the staff at the Cathedral.

Parish Priest again

On February 1, 1960 he was appointed Parish Priest of Riverton where he settled more permanently. This proved to be his last parish. He relished his time here as he loved being a parish priest at a country parish. In January 1967 he again took leave for the whole year, returning once more to his family home in Ireland.

Sudden death

It was only seven months after his return to Riverton that he died suddenly in the presbytery at Riverton on September 14, 1968. He was only 58 years old. On the morning of his death people at the local hospital were waiting for him to bring Communion to some patients, only to hear the sad news that he had been found dead in bed. His sudden death had a great impact on the people of Riverton. In fact on the day of his funeral all the shops and other places of business were closed.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated in the parish church at Riverton. Fr Bill Collins, Parish Priest of Brighton and long time friend, was the celebrant in the presence of Archbishops Beovich and Gleeson, plus more than 70 priests.

In the panegyric Archbishop Beovich said: “The life of a country priest may often be a lonely one, but throughout his life Fr Griffiths was noted for his great care of the sick. This apostolate began soon after his arrival when in the Cathedral parish part of his duties was to visit regularly the patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The very night before he died he was arranging with Matron Slattery to bring Holy Communion to a number of sick in the local hospital. Fr Griffiths always had a special interest in children.”

A number of priest contemporaries from St Kieran’s College, including Fathers Jim Kelly, Patrick Walsh, Thomas Daly, Monsignors Harry Skehan and Brendan O’Sullivan were present at the funeral. (A classmate, Fr John O’Callaghan was away in Ireland at the time.)

He was laid to rest in the Navan Cemetery where Fr Kevin Hay, Parish Priest of Manoora, officiated.

May he rest in peace.