Catholic Diocese of Broome

OBITUARY

Fr Michael Anthony McMahon sac
27.01.1939 – 05.07.2008

By Fr Ray Hevern sac

Born in Victoria, Michael was destined to exercise virtually all of his priestly ministry in Western Australia and thus, not surprisingly, elected to be buried there.

The last of eight children, Michael was born while his parents still lived in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. He was enfolded into a family of rabid Western Bulldogs football supporters, whose passion he picked up and retained throughout his life.

Michael graduated from St Kilda CBC secondary school in 1955, equal dux with fellow student Allan Mithen, together with whom he was to enter the novitiate of the Pallottines in Sydney the following year. He was professed as a member of the institute two years later, then ordained a priest on 20 July 1963 having attained a Licentiate of Theology along the way.

Following a brief appointment as assistant in the Melbourne parish of Bentleigh, Michael was transferred to and remained in the West. After short sojourns in La Grange (Bidyadanga), Derby, then Balgo he became parish priest of Broome in January 1967, a community in which he would remain for 25 years. Elected Regional Leader in 1993, then again in 1996 and 1999, he focused his service on his own community for the next 9 years. Subsequently he chose to remain in WA accepting the post to Chaplain to Trinity College, Perth. Discovered to have extensive cancer following a simple medical procedure he returned to his God after a relatively short period of suffering.

His time in Broome, at the peak of his energy and enthusiasm, brought him into contact with a world that was both colourful and very multicultural. He seemed to fit perfectly and evolved into what some labeled a ‘legend’. In this small town environment his total involvement made him a very significant figure, exercising his ministry on many fronts – including football! His acute sense of social justice and equality saw him immersed in and supporting the often disadvantaged aboriginal community whom he grew to know and love, and whose mutual respect he enjoyed. In the Gospel spirit he maintained an open and welcoming home to all, went out to those who were sick and in prison, helped develop a cooperative store and funeral service, and generally through his good humour and generosity became a widespread and positive influence for good.

The sheer numbers of visitors trying to reach out to Michael during the final days of his illness and the overwhelming tributes received after his death certainly suggest that he occupied a special and honoured part in the lives of many. In his coping with the final stage of life, and its pain which the drugs could not deaden, he witnessed a deep closeness to God and loving acceptance of His call to Himself. Many commented that they felt the better for having known him and been touched by him.

Like a good wine Michael seemed to mature, spiritually, with age. He became wiser, more sensitive, more tolerant, more forgiving, more embracing. In his life he found increasing space to be with his God, to deepen his understanding through reading, and his love through silence and reflection.