Peter Vandeleur
18th January 1932 – 13th March 2010

Peter, who was ordained in Rome in 1955, dedicated 54 years of his life ministering to the people of the Cairns Diocese.

Fellow priest, Ivan Hernon described Peter as an enthusiastic priest who was at the forefront of change in the Catholic Church. “He certainly was a very zealous priest who after the Vatican Council was very much open to implementing the changes that were coming to the church,” Fr Hernon said. Another friend spoke about Peter the godly man – a holy man who had had a great passion for caring for marginalised people. He definitely was a true shepherd of his flock.

St Francis Xavier’s School at Manunda farewelled its beloved parish priest at a special memorial where over 600 students and staff gathered to pay their respects to the deeply spiritual Innisfail-born man, who had been journeying with them for almost16 years.

The extraordinary impact Peter Vandeleur had on so many will always be remembered with loving gratitude.