5045(II)_Educator, Actor & Pastor

Fr Michael Keogh SDB [1926-2019]

March 23, 2019

By Fr William Matthews
Australia-Pacific Provincial

Adelaide, Australia, 22 March 2019 -- A long-time missionary priest of Australia-Pacific Province, Fr Michael Keogh SDB, returned to the Lord early in the morning of Friday 22 March 2019. Fr Michael was 92 years of age, had been professed for 68 year as a Salesian, and served at the altar as Christ’s priest for 58 years.

Fr Michael’s passing did not come as surprise, as he had been in bed for the last couple of years, and been in serious decline in health for a number of weeks.

Fr Michael was born in Quetta, India [now part of Pakistan] on 21 September 1926. At the end of his secondary schooling, he joined the Salesians, making his first religious profession on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, 24 May 1950. He undertook philosophy and theology studies in Sonada and Shillong in India prior to his ordination as a priest on 26 June 1960.

Following his priestly ordination, Fr Michael served as teacher and assistant in many Salesian schools in India. He came to Australia in 1976 as a missionary with two fellow Salesians.

Since arriving in Australia, Fr Michael served in many schools and parishes as educator and pastor. He was famous as a serious hockey player in his young days. With a serious face, he was never slow to play some practical jokes on people. Fr Michael loved theatre. As an expert mimick, he would perform so well on many occasions to entertain others.

He was a true Salesian of Don Bosco. May his gentle and joyful soul rest in peace, amen!