RIP- Fr David Eddie Shelton OMI
It is with great sadness that the Australian Province announces the death of Fr David Shelton OMI, on 12th December, 2019.
Fr David had been suffering from a form of Lymphoma; he had just been admitted for scheduled Chemotherapy and died quickly and peacefully in the hospital.
Fr David was a missionary from the Anglo Irish Province and a great gift to the Australian Province and Church. Fr David Shelton was born on the 25th June, 1941 in Stourport, UK, had one sister, and was educated at St Mary’s Colwyn Bay, Wales. He joined the Oblates in 1958 at Cahermoyle, Ireland, studied at Belmont and Piltown, and was ordained 11th February, 1968 in Birmingham.
His first obedience was to Australia, and he spent from 1968 to the end of 1970 as assistant priest at Hillcrest Parish, SA. In 1971 he went to Indonesia as one of the first 4 Oblate missionaries, with Kevin Casey, Pat Moroney and Pat Slattery, and worked in Purwokerto East and then Cilacap with Kevin Casey.
In 1983 he returned to Australia to be briefly the assistant priest at Our Lady of Fatima, Rosebud (Victoria) then assisted at Sefton (NSW) till early 1987 when he went to be an assistant priest at Dernancourt, Adelaide for 2 years. Six years as Sorrento parish priest followed, then a year assisting at St John Vianney’s, Springvale North, then some short supplies in various places before settling in WA as prison chaplain based at Fremantle.
Fr David excelled in this ministry for well over 20 years with his great compassion and care for the poor, often building relationships with prisoners and assisting them and their families. Fr David had two big interests – tennis and Formula 1 racing. He traveled around following F1, to Melbourne for the Australian grand prix, and overseas. In March 2016 while he was leaving the Australian grand prix, he suffered a major heart attack and was out of action for the remainder of the year
. Fr David had a big heart, did little acts of kindness, was great with the down and out; he was loyal, with a wicked sense of humour, and loved food and drink.
The Australian Province thanks God for the gift of Fr David Shelton OMI.
(Requiem Mass details Mazenod College Chapel Friday 20th December at 11:00am Burial at Springvale Cemetary followed by refreshments )