Fr Andrew Tuite

Early life

Andrew Tuite was born at Kells in Co Meath Ireland on May 6, 1910. His early education was received at the Christian Brothers College in Kells and then at St Finians College, Mulingar.  His ecclesiastical studies were undertaken at All Hallows College in Dublin and it was there he was ordained priest on June 23, 1935.

Appointments

Fr Tuite arrived in Adelaide November 23, 1935 and he was immediately appointed Assistant Priest at Port Lincoln, which at that time was part of the Archdiocese. He remained there until February 1938 when he moved to Lower North Adelaide, again as Assistant Priest.

In September the following year he was appointed Assistant Priest at Naracoorte where he remained for six years. Fr Andy was quite a handyman and while at Naracoorte on his ‘days off’ he would travel to Mt Gambier to learn the skills of being a motor mechanic.

On July 1, 1945 he returned to the city and went to Goodwood parish, again as Assistant Priest.

On April 1, 1947 he received his first appointment as Parish Priest, returning again to the South East as Parish Priest of Bordertown. Once again his practical skills came to the fore and he built most of the presbytery at Bordertown with his own hands, including digging trenches by hand and carting the stone. Due to ill health, no doubt contributed to by hard physical work, he was not able to complete the task himself. The presbytery was completed and opened in 1954. The local parish history described Fr Tuite as a “colourful character who could express himself extremely well in Australian terms and was much loved by his parishioners and many non Catholics. He assisted people regardless of their religious belief in a true Christian manner”.

Fr Tuite saw the need for a church at Keith and was instrumental in the purchase of 20 acres of land on the outskirts of the town. He also had plans for a Catholic school at Bordertown and purchased five acres of land. But the school was never built and the new St Mary’s Church now stands on that land.

In January 1954 he took six months leave to Ireland and on his return he was appointed Parish Priest of Penola. He remained here until May 1957 when he was replaced by another Irishman, Fr Patrick Gleeson, and he moved to take up the position as Parish Priest of Yorketown. This was to be his longest and last appointment. In 1975 he took long service leave and was away for nine months.

Retirement

On March 1, 1976 Fr Andrew retired with the title ‘Pastor Emeritus’ and decided to live at Point Turton, a seaside village near Warooka. But he was only able to enjoy this for just on two years as he died in the Minlaton hospital on May 18, 1978.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Columba’s Church at Yorketown and he was buried in the Warooka Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.