Mgr John Aloysius Gatzemeyer

Early Life

John Aloysius Gatzemeyer was born in Adelaide on the March 1, 1887. His studies for the priesthood were undertaken at St Patrick’s College, Manly NSW.

He was ordained to the priesthood in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on December 8, 1914. He arrived back in Adelaide on December 15.

Appointments

His first appointment on January 16, 1915 was as Assistant Priest at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral parish where he had been baptised and served as an altar boy. As a young priest he showed great powers in administration, so in September 1920 Archbishop Spence appointed him administrator of the Cathedral parish – a position he held for the next eight years.

The Archbishop was about to undertake his great work of enlarging and transforming the Cathedral. The task of organising and raising funds for this work fell on the shoulders of Fr Gatzemeyer together with many details of the building works.

On February 1, 1929 he was appointed Parish Priest of Hamley Bridge.

Five years later on February 1, 1934 he was appointed the first Parish Priest of Dulwich, a position he held for the rest of his life. This was a new parish that had previous been mainly part of the Norwood parish.

In 1936 Fr Gatzemeyer was appointed a secretary of the committee organising the great Eucharistic and Education Congress which Archbishop Killian sponsored to mark the Catholic contribution to the South Australia Centenary. The success of the Congress was largely due to the work of Fr Gatzemeyer.

Leadership

Fr Gatzemeyer was given many positions of leadership in the diocese. In December 1951 he was appointed a Diocesan Consultor, and then on January 1, 1955 he was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese. Soon after, in recognition of his services, Pope Pius XII appointed him a Prelate of Honour with the title of Monsignor.

In Dulwich parish the foundation stone of the first St Peter Claver’s Church/School was laid in Warwick Avenue on June 15, 1919 and was opened by Archbishop Spence OP on September 28, 1919. In 1925 due to increasing numbers a new building was added to be used as the Church and hall and the old building was divided into three classrooms.

He had begun planning a new church for Dulwich prior to his death in 1959. Fr Denis O’Connell who succeeded him immediately requested permission from Archbishop Beovich to renew Mgr Gatzemeyer’s building application – not for one church, but two – St Peter Claver’s at Dulwich and St John Vianney’s at Burnside.

Through most of his life Mgr John was in good health but he was deeply affected by the tragic death of his brother Fr Frederick Gatzemeyer who died as a result of a car accident in March 1957. In the last few years his health worsened and during this time he was supported by Fr Wall, his assistant priest. Mgr John died at Calvary Hospital on June 25, 1959.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Beovich in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on June 27. The Archbishop spoke of the quality Fr Gatzemeyer’s priestly life and paid tribute to his parents who had given three priests to the Archdiocese. He described him as “an exemplary priest who, like his brothers, was of quiet and solid piety, always upholding the dignity and mercy of his office. Though he was a somewhat stern man, there was no priest who was not his friend.

“During his life he had organised many works for others and looked forward to building a noble church at Dulwich, but first he had to dispose of a big debt. This he managed and began a building fund, and in only six months he obtained permission to consult an architect and prepare plans. But God had other plans and it was left to others to complete the work he had begun.”

The Archbishop thanked Dr John Rice and the Sisters at Calvary Hospital who cared for him in his illness.

At the Solemn Pontifical Mass the Archbishop was assisted by Mgr W Russell and Fr E Griffiths, and also Frs Hatchard and Wall.

His remains were interred at the West Terrace Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.