austraLasia #2326


Life and work of former provincial lauded as he is laid to rest

MELBOURNE: 14th January 2009 -- "The story of Don Bosco and the story of Ian Murdoch have long been entwined", said Fr Frank Moloney, current provincial of the Australia-Pacific Province, in his homily-eulogy at the Requiem for his predecessor, Fr Ian Murdoch. In a quite important way, this moment of recognition of the life and work of Ian Murdoch set the tone for the opening of the Salesian 'Year of Grace' and 150th celebrations in the context of this province. 
    In a "wonderful 90 minutes" with Ian prior to his death, Frank had had the opportunity to reflect with him on all the sorrows and joys of a dedicated and very full life, and in particular the last three years, which Ian told him were "the richest period of my life". It was in these three years that he spent time as visiting Professor at the Catholic University of America (2006) and devoted an entire year to the study of Don Bosco.  Already a trained and acknowledged academic with a doctorate in Church history, and having spent a year in 1998 at Berkeley's Centre of Salesian Studies under the expert tutelage of Fr Art Lenti,  Ian brought this talent and his passion for Don Bosco to the task. He ran a seminar at Berkeley (USA) on 'Give me souls, take away the rest', then returned to the province "ready to make a major contribution to the Province, the Region, the Congregation". In 2007 he gave lectures across the province, gave a major course on the Memoirs of the Oratory and Don Bosco's lives of his students (Savio, Magone, Besucco) at the Diocesan and Religious Seminary in Melbourne, Catholic Theological College. Ian had already been a long-time lecturer there. "In 2008, despite failing health, he preached all the retreats in the Province and in England on a theme that had been with him since his earliest days as a student in history: Starting again from Don Bosco".
    Ian was described as "a profoundly private man who had to take on the extremely public task of running the province with the largest geographical expansion in the Salesian world". He took office at a time when the abuse of minors came under close scrutiny, and Frank described his "tireless work with victims, alleged perpetrators, always maintaining a respect for all parties". Frank added poignantly that "the Province will never know the extent of these long years of intense and silent suffering".
    The large group of Salesians, family and friends gathered at Salesian College Rupertswood in what is the height of the summer vacation season in Melbourne, were left with these final words: "As I wonder about God's plans for us, when so few are sent, and the best we have are taken away as we all get older, I was struck by the words that Ian used to close his Starting again from Don Bosco. He left me, and all of us, the advice the lady of the dream gave to young Don Bosco: 'Make yourself humble, brave, persevering. In due time you will understand everything'.
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Title: australasia 2326
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces AUL Ian Murdoch
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2326