Fr Thomas Fallon

Early years

Thomas Joseph Fallon was born at Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon in Ireland on November 24, 1883. He received his early education in Carlow and also studied for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Carlow, where he was ordained in the college chapel on June 3, 1915

 Ministry in Adelaide

He arrived in Adelaide December 2, that year and soon after was appointed Assistant Priest at Naracoorte. After two years there he returned to Adelaide to be an assistant in the Cathedral parish.

On February 1, 1922 he was appointed Parish Priest of Spalding, which at that time was still part of the Archdiocese of Adelaide. He remained for 13 years before transferring to the Strathalbyn Parish.

After seven years there he was appointed Parish Priest of Mount Barker on June 1, 1942. The parishioners of Mount Barker had requested a new priest as the former Parish Priest suffered from a serious throat ailment and had ceased giving sermons at Mass. However Fr Fallon had a penchant for giving very long sermons so those who requested the replacement were none too pleased and were also heavily criticised by others.

At the time there were 10,500 people in the area covered by the parish but only 850 were recorded as Catholic. There were three churches – at Stirling, Mount Barker and Kanmantoo. St Scholastica’s School in Mount Barker had 46 day students and 64 female boarders cared for by 11 Sisters of Mercy. Fr Fallon visited the hospital regularly and the 14 State Schools where there were 110 Catholic children. But Fr Fallon had some unusual characteristics, including a formidable temper. His re-assignment in 1946 came as a relief to many parishioners.

On April 4, 1946 he became Parish Priest of St Peters where he remained for the rest of his life.

He died on June 17, 1950 after a short illness, aged only 63 years. His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr J Morrissey in the parish church of the Holy Name at St Peters. In the absence of the Archbishop, Mgr Thomas Davis paid tribute to Fr Fallon as “one of many priests who volunteered in Ireland to come to help in Australia. He left his home and kindred to do God’s work. That work he had done in a worthy, devoted and priestly manner.”

He was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.