Priest’s anniversary wish – that more young men take up cloth

Sydney
21 July 2002

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Priest’s anniversary wish – that more young men take up cloth

Fr Denis Foley (pictured) – who celebrates the 40th anniversary of his ordination this weekend at the Parish of Mary Immaculate, Bossley Park – hopes his story may inspire some young men to consider the priesthood and other people to pray for more priests.

He believes one reason men might not even consider the priesthood is that they simply assume they will get married without giving the matter of a life’s vocation any deeper thought.

But “I am enjoying being a priest”, he says.

Fr Foley says that a life-long devotion to Mary the Mother of God, imbued in him by his grandmother and at school, has been a source of strength in his priestly journey.

He says his “good family background” (he grew up in Flemington) was an influence in his life as a priest, although it was “a bit scarred by the effects that war has on people”. His father served in World War II.

Fr Foley is a member of the Schoenstatt movement based at Mulgoa, which is part of the international Marian and apostolic organisation within the Church.

He is the chairperson of its inspirational team and is responsible for the priests’ branch, the men’s branch and the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate of the Schoenstatt family in the greater Sydney area.

Fr Foley has served in the parishes of Kingsgrove, St Mary’s Western Line, Rozelle, Mt Druitt, South Blacktown, Pennant Hills, Epping, Annandale, Maroubra, Menai, Belmore and now Bossley Park.

One of his great interests is the Church’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, probably because his mother became a Catholic at the time of her marriage, he says.

“I feel privileged to accompany people on their faith journey as they travel in their relationship with God,” he says.