Patrick Martin Jones
29th July 1934 – 18th February 2010

On 31 December 1955 a 21 year old Patrick M Jones wrote to The Most Rev T V Cahill DD, PhD volunteering to study for the priesthood for the Cairns Diocese. On 1 July 1962 he was ordained a priest in St Mary’s, Kingaroy after completing his studies at Banyo Seminary in Brisbane. Pat’s many appointments in the Cairns Diocese, included time in Atherton, North Cairns, Cooktown and Ravenshoe. Many may not know that the church in Ravenshoe was built from the winnings of his famous greyhound Stationmaster (named after his father who worked for Queensland railways and was station master in a number of remote places in Queensland, particularly in the Far North of the diocese).

Pat served as police chaplain in the Far North for many years and wet plenty of fishing lines with coppers, particularly around Weipa. He had a particular way of ‘being a mate’ and was well loved and highly respected by police members and their families. In 1999 Fr Pat volunteered to work for two years in remote WA in the communities from Kununurra/Wyndham Parish.

Pat will be remembered as a generous and caring pastor and friend to many.