Fr Edward John Smyth

Early Life

Edward John Smyth was born in Alma in the Mid-North of SA on June 1, 1905. He received his early education at the Alma Primary School and always had grateful memories of his teacher in the local State School. He later went to the Good Samaritan Convent School in Gawler and then to Sacred Heart College at Somerton.

His studies for the priesthood were at St Columba’s College, Springwood and St Patrick’s College Many in New South Wales. He was ordained priest in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Adelaide on November 30, 1931. He always maintained a close relationship with the seminaries and former students of Springwood and Manly.

Appointments

The first years of his priesthood were as Assistant Priest at Murray Bridge, a parish that at that time extended to the Victorian border. At the beginning of 1935 the eastern section was cut off to form the Pinnaroo parish, and although only ordained three years Fr Smyth was made Parish Priest of Pinnaroo/Lameroo.

These were difficult times in that area. In the previous six months several families were forced off their farms because of extended drought. The new Parish Priest generously shared the hardship and poverty of the local people and became a true shepherd of the flock who supported his people through their trials and anxieties.

During 1938 he spent nearly twelve months a s ‘locum tenens’ at Dulwich, but then returned to Pinnaroo until 1941 when he was enlisted as a Chaplain to the RAAF. He served in both Australia and in New Guinea.

After discharge from the Air Force in August 1946 he was appointed Parish Priest of Willunga where he remained for 28 years.  Fr Smyth became somewhat entrenched in the parish – he knew his people well, and they knew him well.  He made it known that he did not want to leave Willunga, and was somewhat ‘disturbed; when he learnt that the Morphett Vale area was to be cut off as a new parish.

Retirement

 It was in 1974 that, due to serious illness, Fr Eddie, as he was commonly known, retired and took up residence in one of the Southern Cross Units at Northfield together with his house-keeper Ms Mavis Sigston who cared for him for many years, both in sickness and in health.

Fr Eddie was not a highly organised administrator, nor a great preacher or liturgist or catechist but few were ever as attentive as he was to people in trouble or sick or dying. He was wonderfully solicitous in supporting and consoling people in distress or in sorrow at the death of a loved one.  Over the years he would have attended an incredible number of funerals.

It was in June 1978 that Fr Eddie’s health failed significantly and on the 15th June he gave his spirit to the Heavenly Father.  His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on 19th June.

In his eulogy Archbishop Gleeson said: “That giving of himself in death was a release from long years of suffering, of sharing in the passion of Christ. But it was truly only the final stage in that constant and generous giving of himself in priesthood and priestly service since his ordination in 1931. During these last few years suffering from cancer, he conscientiously committed himself to preparing for his death which it was to bring about. With a great sense of detachment from the things of the world he put his affairs in order, even depositing the text for his death notice with the undertakers. This attitude of mind and his clear union in faith in the sufferings of Christ were not surprising on one who made the Stations of the Cross every day and was so faithful his daily prayers, especially the recitation of the Rosary In an unsophisticated way he gave meaning to faith, love and religion.”

Throughout his life Fr Eddie was a true brother to his fellow priests and faithful in attending priests’ gatherings. He became a legend in the diocese with his many yarns, true and apocryphal, being oft repeated.

A number of brother priests came from NSW to attend his funeral. In fact one of these, Fr Tom Desmond of Wagga Diocese was a lifelong and close friend.  He and Fr Eddie were boys together at Sacred Heart College in the 1920’s, they studied for the priesthood together and were ordained on the same day.  Fr Tom came and spent the last week with Fr Eddie to support him in his last hours.  He was among the 89 priests who con-celebrated the Requiem Mass.

Fr Eddie Smyth was buried in the Navan Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.