Fr William (Bill) Dwyer SJ, died at Constant Lieven Hospital, Mandar, Ranchi at 4:15 am on Tuesday 12 November. He was 94 years old and had devoted 76 years to the Society of Jesus.
Fr William Dwyer was born on May 13, 1930, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He completed his primary and middle schooling at St. Teresa’s Parish School, Essendon, Victoria, and his secondary education at St. Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, Victoria.
He entered the Society of Jesus on February 2, 1948, at Loyola College, Watsonia, Victoria. After completing his novitiate and juniorate at the same college, he went to India in 1952 in the second group of Australian Jesuits to travel to India. There he spent decades of leaving a profound legacy, uplifting tribal communities through education and spiritual direction. He was ordained a priest on March 25, 1963, at Ranchi Cathedral by Archbishop Pius Kerketta, SJ DD. He was fully incorporated into the Society of Jesus on August 15, 1967, at St. Xavier’s, Hazaribag.
Companions of Jesuit Mission, Fr Paul Horan SJ and Fr Tony Herbert SJ, joined Fr Bill in language school in Allahabad, India, many years ago.
“He was a good friend of mine. He was very warm and welcoming, sharing his experience and advice. Tony and I felt very supported. We all lived together in Allahabad for six months and it was a very happy house,” says Fr Paul. “Later he became the Principal of St Xavier’s College, he spoke very high class Hindi that often native speakers raised their eyebrows in shock speaking with him.”
Fr Bill was very near and dear to many supporters of Jesuit Mission Australia, as a Hazaribag Missionary for many decades and the Assistant Director of Jesuit Mission in Melbourne from 2007 to 2008 before returning to Hazaribag in 2009.
Please pray for the repose of Fr William Dwyer’s soul.
Photos courtesy of the Australian Jesuit Province office, Hazaribag Jesuit Province and Jesuit Mission Australia.
