Tribute Archbishop Emeritus Leonard Anthony Faulkner St Francs Xavier s Cathedral, Adelaide 14 th May 2018 When he returned to Adelaide as a young priest following his ordination in Rome in1950, Father Leonard Faulkner was appointed as assistant priest to Monsignor William Russell, in the newly establish and expanding Woodville Parish in the Western suburbs. There he found so many migrants from post-world War Two Europe, striving to establish themselves in a new environment of culture and language. To that ministry he brought his life experiences. His childhood was spent on a farm where life was tough. He did not start school until he was seven, because before that, he was considered not strong enough to walk the more than four miles to and from school. I asked him if it was true that he had to carry his shoes to school to save the leather, and with one of his half smiles, he replied, probably. Going to Rome to study soon after World War II, he saw the devastation caused by war and the hardship under which the people laboured. Living and studying with students from across the world, his understanding of people and their diversity expanded dramatically. Learning to speak Italian was a skill which he bought to his ministry as priest and bishop. Life itself, more than text books in Latin, connected Fr Leonard Faulkner to the people with warmth and respect. His appointment as chaplain to the Young Christian Workers Movement in 1955, while still in parish ministry, gave Fr Leonard an in-depth understanding of youth and workers. He absorbed and lived the spirit of Joseph Cardijn, and the movement which he founded. It was a gospelcentred apostolate with the simple process of See, Judge, Act that influenced his whole life and ministry. When he asked me to deliver the Tribute as his Funeral Mass, Archbishop Faulkner, wanted me to emphasise that he was always the priest. And while the mitre was placed on his head during his consecration as bishop on Townsville in 1967, he remained always the
priest. Taking as his motto the words of Jesus, As One Who Serves, he remained totally faithful to his priesthood. It must have come as a shock to him, when at the age of 40, he was appointed as bishop of Townsville, moving from the Mediterranean climate of Adelaide to the tropics of North Queensland. This brought new challenges, such as driving vast distances to the parishes across his new Diocese. It also meant leaving family and friends behind and the making of new friendships and appointing new people with whom he would work collaboratively. As a new bishop, just two years after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, and having learnt much from Archbishop Matthew Beovich and his friend and mentor, Archbishop James Gleeson, he absorbed the spirit of the Council. Bishop Faulkner was among the first of the post-conciliar bishops called to serve Australia. Townsville provided the opportunity for him to discover the faith, cultures, and spirituality of Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples. The deep respect he developed for them in Townsville and in Adelaide, and a sensitivity to the complex issues which they faced, was an important hallmark of his ministry. Returning to Adelaide as Coadjutor to Archbishop Gleeson was a joy for him. Their long friendship and partnership in ministry continued after Archbishop Gleeson s early retirement and remains a model of priestly partnership and cooperation. In the spirit of the Vatican Council, and with the experience of 16 years as bishop of Townsville, Archbishop Faulkner arrived with new ideas for the Archdiocese. He was profoundly convinced of the essential role of all the baptised, Christ s Faithful, called to mission. Building upon the Diocesan Pastoral Renewal that had been inaugurated by Archbishop Gleeson, and in consultation with the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Council of Priests and other key people, Archbishop Faulkner proposed a new model of governance the Diocesan Pastoral Team bishop, priest, religious and lay person sharing leadership together. This was met with some suspicion by many
priests, therefore Archbishop Faulkner went to every regional priests meeting to explain what he had in mind. I remember thinking at the time just how humble he was to do such a thing. He did not seek to impose his ideas from above; rather he demonstrated his genuine desire to work collaboratively with priests and people, within and beyond the Church. We, in this Archdiocese, are grateful for the vision and wisdom Archbishop Faulkner brought to his ministry. That unique partnership of the Diocesan Pastoral Team enriched the pastoral care of people beyond expectation, especially with its strong emphasis on parish visitation. This was another hallmark of Archbishop Faulkner s ministry always out among the people in parishes and among the ethnic communities relishing in the multi-cultural nature of the Church of Adelaide. His humility would be shown much later, when twice, he was offered an Order of Australia honour. The second time he wrote in reply, How can I accept an honour for something I have always loved doing. Archbishop Faulkner was absolutely delighted, when preparing for the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1986, Adelaide was chosen as the venue for the meeting with rural communities given his farming origins and the Mass with its focus Australia: Land of Many Cultures, which was an experience which truly gladdened his heart. Like Archbishop Gleeson, Archbishop Faulkner had a great memory for names, which delighted people being remembered so personally. He followed the test cricket with great attention, and enthusiastically supported the Crows. His regular games of golf brought him relaxation and friendships with brother priests. Archbishop Faulkner chose to live in a suburban house, like many of his priests, and there he offered hospitality to us priests, especially through his informal Thursday evening meals. With a warm smile he relished being with people. Sometimes administration became a problem, which he readily admitted. When a country parish was soon to become vacant he told three priests you would make a great parish priest there each thinking that it was theirs in the end leaving two of them very disappointed.
The completion of the Cathedral, with the erection of the tower, was a project which Archbishop Falkner approached with some ambivalence, but it s dedication in 1996, 138 years to the day since first part was blessed, was a joyful and wonderful occasion. Through the years how many people worked with Archbishop Faulkner, too many to name! But what each person did with, and for Archbishop Faulkner, helped him live his motto As One Who Serves. Special acknowledgement is given to Mrs Sheila Hill, his secretary in Townsville and his personal assistant and housekeeper in Adelaide. In his later years her care for him enabled him to live at home until he turned 90. For this we are very grateful. Archbishop Faulkner built on the firm foundations laid by Archbishop Beovich and Archbishop Gleeson, but also brought to his ministry fresh Vatican Council inspired ideas, which enriched the Archdiocese and all its people. His vision of the Church as a community for the world was underpinned by a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, shown in his love for the Gospels, in his quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, in praying both the Divine Office and the Rosary of Mary every day. By living out this vision he led this local Church of Adelaide in the development of basic ecclesial communities within parishes. He was committed to ecumenical and interfaith partnerships - including welcoming the Dalai Lama to the Cathedral, by shared leadership in the Lutheran - Roman Catholic Dialogue and friendships made within the Heads of Christian Churches regular meetings. He showed a compassionate and respectful ministry among people living with HIV/AIDS. We witnessed his belief that Catholic Education enriched families and made an important contribution to our Australian society. We saw his sincere appreciation of the unique place which the religious sisters, priests and brothers had among the People of God, and valued the dynamic presence of so many multicultural communities in the Archdiocese. Archbishop Faulkner celebrated his last Mass on Good Shepherd Sunday. While reading the Gospel, coming to the central words, he spoke them with additional strength and conviction, I am the Good Shepherd. I lay down my life for my sheep. As son and brother, as priest and bishop, Leonard Anthony Faulkner was a good shepherd who
gave his life as one who serves without counting the cost and always with a great spirit of optimistic joy. At the conclusion of that Mass in his room, he said to the few of us gathered with him, It is good to spend time with the Lord like this. Thank you, Len, for helping us all to spend time with the Lord all through the years of your ministry among us. Fr Maurice Shinnick 14 th May 2018