On Friday July 16th at the chapel of Nazareth House Nursing Home, Tom Murtagh OFM and Arthur Boland OFM were joined by 16 priests including the Australian Franciscan Provincial, Paul Smith OFM and family members as they celebrated their Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination.

Tom has spent most of his priesthood in teaching and professorial roles. He gained a Doctorate in Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity. Tom’s thesis dealt with the work of medieval Franciscan Peter Olivi who was born in France in 1248, studied under St Bonaventure in Paris and taught theology. Though a controversial figure because of his stance on strict poverty, he was exonorated and the Franciscan Minister General commissioned him to teach student-friars. Tom said he worked on Olivi’s writings because “nobody else had done it”! Tom helped fraternities of the Secular Franciscan Order as Spiritual Assistant and lectured at Yarra Theological College. Sadly, all of this fine work came to an abrupt halt when he was struck by a debilitating stroke in 2004. Tom is now confined to a wheelchair.

Arthur was ordained on the same day as Tom. His priestly energy has been spent on missionary work in Aitape Mission, PNG. Over almost all of his 50 years as a priest, Arthur has had roles in various parts of the now expanded Aitape Diocese where he is currently guiding the formation of young indigenous Franciscans.

The Franciscan family rejoice that Tom and Arthur have been such valuable contributors to the mission of the church and to the wider society.