Sydney
20 April 2003

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Fr Michael’s legacy of laughter, not tears

Archbishop George Pell presided at the funeral Mass for Fr Michael Foster at St Mary’s Cathedral which was concelebrated by Cardinal Clancy and Bishops David Cremin, Geoff Robinson, Peter Ingham, Michael Malone and Patrick Murphy

By Marilyn Rodrigues

Fr Michael Foster had asked for the Magnificat to be sung after his funeral instead of the Salve Regina because his life had not been a “vale of tears”, said his friend Fr Gerard Kelly at his funeral Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral.

In fact he was recognisable in a crowd by his laughter, Fr Gerard said.

In his homily Fr Gerard painted a picture of an energetic, cheerful friend and pastor who was attentive to the Word of God and nurtured others in their faith as a parish priest, vocations director and inaugural rector at Sydney’s Good Shepherd Seminary.

Fr Michael, 47, who died of cancer after a year’s illness, “loved the Church and was proud to be a priest at the service of God’s people”, he said.

He had been ill for a year, and prepared for death with faith and the knowledge that he was approaching “the culmination of what his life had been about”.

“In fact, he said to a few people that he would probably be home for Easter,” he added.

Fr Michael’s parents, Fay and Bert, his family and friends, almost filled the cathedral for the liturgy on Wednesday, April 9.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr George Pell, presided at the Mass, which was concelebrated with the former archbishop, Cardinal Edward Clancy, and Bishops David Cremin, Geoff Robinson, Peter Ingham, Michael Malone and Patrick Murphy.

About 150 priests from NSW and interstate, many of them former classmates of Fr Michael or students who were under his care, were there too.

In white chasubles they made a striking procession into the cathedral from College St to the Easter hymn, By Your Kingly Power, O Risen Lord, then filled the sanctuary and pews alongside it.

Fr Michael’s stole and chalice, the book of the Gospels, and other symbols of Easter, resurrection, baptism, and his family life were placed on his coffin at the beginning of Mass.

Fr Michael had chosen the readings and hymns for the beautiful and solemn occasion, “hoping, I’m sure, that the powerful word of God would support us in our grief”, said Fr Gerard.

“Each of us can tell our own story of how Michael listened attentively to the word of God and received it, and, if we think about it, how, by the decisions he made, he gradually put together that life that God had planned for him,” he said.

“I was struck by the way people were comfortable being around this priest.

“Some even referred to him as the family chaplain. He was both a friend and a pastor to them. They were with him in the proclamation of the Word of God and the celebration of the sacraments.

“But they were also with him in more relaxed moments, when he would inevitably be recognised by his laugh.”

Mons Tony Doherty, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral, later shared some thoughts with The Catholic Weekly on Fr Michael that echoed those of others.

“He was a gentle, thoughtful man with a considered opinion about his ministry and the Church,” he said.

“He was widely loved and respected and had a wide range of loving friends. Group after group had visited him while he was ill.

“He was a man who touched life lightly and he had a generous and infectious laugh.”

Bishop David Cremin, who visited Fr Michael shortly before his death, said the priest had told him of his hope to be “home for Easter” and had added, “death is the ultimate healing”.

Fr Michael was the first rector of the Good Shepherd Seminary for six years until early 2002 and was Sydney archdiocese’s vocations director for six years before that.

As a parish priest, Fr Michael served in the parishes of Revesby, Panania, Springwood, Enfield, Mt Druitt and Cabramatta.

He was ordained in 1980.