01 Nov 2023
Priest without borders
Mgr Robert Joseph Egar - Born: July 22 1933 | Died: September 19 2023
Robert Joseph Egar was the seventh of nine children born to Eugene and Dorothea Egar on July 22 1933. His younger sister Ruth became a Sister of Mercy and younger brother Tony became a Passionist priest.
His early education was at the Convent of Mercy school at Parkside, followed by Christian Brothers College in Adelaide.
Rob grew up with peaceful, faith-filled and committed parents, it was a very happy family and family life was always important to Rob. In later life he was often the instigator of family gatherings.
He commenced his ecclesiastical studies at St Francis Xavier's Seminary Adelaide and St Patrick's College Manly NSW. He was ordained priest in St Francis Xavier's Cathedral on July 27 1957.
Appointments
His first appointment was as assistant priest at Croydon where he remained for six years. Next he served at Brighton where in March 1966 he was appointed Chaplain to Flinders University and also a member of the Catholic Radio and TV Committee. In May 1967 he was appointed a member of the Senate of Priests.
In January 1970 he was appointed Parish Priest at Morphett Vale, a rapidly developing area south of Adelaide. There he lived in a transportable hut for the first 18 months. One of the milestones of his time at Morphett Vale was the building and completion of the new church of Mary Help of Christians - quite a modern style church that stands out as one travels down South Road. Another major development in his time was the Antonio School on a site opposite the church. The school took its name from the Antonio Family who made a major contribution to its construction.
He also redeveloped the old church - the second church built in the diocese, and also where St Mary MacKillop's excommunication was lifted.
Another notable innovation - he appointed Sr Meredith Evans RSM and his sister Ruth as Pastoral Associates.
In June 1971 he was appointed Diocesan Consultor for a three year term.
In May 1973 Fr Rob took long service leave and travelled overseas.
In March 1974 he was appointed a member of the Southern Cross Advisory Board, and soon after he was reappointed a Diocesan Consultor for another three year term.
While he was chaplain at Flinders University he began studying and on December 1 1974 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree.
In February 1976 Fr Rob was chosen as the Consultors' representative on the Council of Priests.
In July 1979 he was appointed to the Council of Sites and Architecture.
In August 1982 Fr Rob took long service leave and holidays.
Soon after his return, in January 1983 he was appointed leader of the Salisbury Parish Team, an innovative idea of shared leadership in the pastoral care of the parish. But after a while he continued as Parish Priest.
Fr Rob had quite a leadership role in the diocese and in November 1983 he was appointed a member of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee. Then in June 1985 he was asked to join a 'Committee of Pastors' responsible to advise the Archbishop on appointment and transfers of priests - more commonly know now as the Appointments Board.
In February 1987 he was again appointed to the Council of Priests and also as Chairman of the Council. On February 1 1988 he was elected Council of Priests representative on the SA Catholic Schools Commission. Later that year he again elected member of the Council of Priests and also to serve as its Chairman. Then the following year he was again appointed a Diocesan Consultor for a five-year term.
Vicar General
On June 1 1990 Fr Rob's leadership qualities were recognised in that following a process of consultation with clergy and laity of the diocese he was appointed Vicar General. In that position he was a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Team which Archbishop Faulkner had implemented as a new way of administering the diocese. The DPT consisted of the Archbishop, the Vicar General, a Religious Sister and a lay woman. During his time on the Team Fr Rob worked with Sr Pauline Morgan RSJ, Mrs Madge McGuire, Mrs Geraldine Hawkes and Sister Meredith Evans RSM. Each member of the Team had responsibility for specific areas of ministry.
Fr Rob had this position for more than seven years, during which time he also served as a Consultor and member of the Council of Priests. Fr Rob continued as Vicar General until June 1995 when he was replaced by Mgr Ian Dempsey. In June 1997 he was asked to be chaplain to the Catholic Education Office and its staff. Fr Rob continued to be a member of the Council of Priests until July 2000.
At the conclusion of his term as Vicar General in December 1998 he was asked to be assistant priest in the Morphett Vale parish - his old parish where he served for many years. Here he was involved in some pastoral ministry as well as being available for weekend Masses.
At the end of the year in December 1999 Mgr Rob was appointed Parish Priest at Seacombe Gardens and took up his appointment from January 30 2000.
In recognition of all his works of leadership in the Archdiocese, on April 26 2002 he was appointed a Prelate of Honour of his Holiness Pope John Paul II with the title of Monsignor.
The following year he was again appointed as a member of the Council of Priests and also the Dean of the Southern Deanery.
Mgr Rob formally retired as Parish Priest on January 31 2009. For some time he lived privately in Dover Gardens but he was still very much an active priest, helping with supplies, especially in country parishes, and other pastoral services.
Special Interests
Mgr Rob had always been a great supporter of the National Council of Priests and attended many of their Conventions. In 2009 together with Fr Bob Wilkinson he became the joint editor of the NCP publication the SWAG. For many years Bob Wilkinson had been the editor of The Southern Cross newspaper and Rob had also served time on the editorial committee, so their efforts helped to improve the quality of the SWAG.
Rob was noted for his many letters to the Editor of various newspapers and magazines, including the London TABLET.
One of Mgr Rob's great passions was the fostering of vocations and supporting seminarians. Whenever he visited Melbourne he would always try to visit the Seminary to meet with students.
Another of his passions was Catholic education - he served on the SA Catholic Schools Commission and for time as Chaplain to the Catholic Education Office.
Rob was noted for wonderful memory. He had a great love for history, especially World War II, the history of Europe, the Papacy and the Catholic Church in Australia.
Rob was never very interested in sport, but he loved walking and on two occasions he walked part of the Camino Trail in Spain, and also the MacKillop trail, sometimes called the Aussie Camino from Portland to Penola.
Together with his friend Ros Rowett he formed a publishing group, "Pilgrims Quest" and produced a number of publications, especially on the priesthood, the Mass and other religious topics. One of these, 'Making More of the Mass' sold more than 20,000 copies, including into the United States.
He was also supportive of a group of young married couples, many of whom he had celebrated, and they would meet regularly for prayer and social time together.
From early childhood Rob had a great interest in and love of trains. When overseas for example, wherever possible he would travel by train. Even in latter years he loved to get on the Overland from Adelaide to Melbourne. And while in Melbourne he would visit the Seminary and often have a meal with local SA students.
As his health began to decline he decided to move to the priests retirement centre at Villa Murphy. But he still kept active and assisted with regular Masses at the adjacent Pines Nursing Home.
In mid 2023 he began to experience serious breathing problems and after a number of visits to hospital he died peacefully in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on September 19. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier's Cathedral on October 3. In the absence of Archbishop O'Regan who had left to attend the Synod in Rome, Fr Dean Marin was Principal celebrant. His brother Tony CP gave the homily, explaining how Rob had a hand in preparing his funeral Mass, choosing the readings, music etc.
The eulogy was given by his sister Ruth RSM. She recalled many of her childhood memories of their family, her time together with Rob at Primary School, and how he was always an integral part of the family. She took a special interest in caring for Rob's needs in his declining health. She also read a message from Bishop Greg O'Kelly who was unable to attend. He recalled many of Rob's qualities, describing him as "a man of great priestly integrity and zeal, always and everywhere faithful". He concluded with the words: "Well done good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of the Lord".
A good gathering of fellow priests joined in the concelebrated Mass, and the Cathedral was full - what a wonderful tribute to a much loved priest.
His mortal remains were interred at the Centennial Park Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.