It is with great sadness that I inform you that Fr Peter Daly OMI, tragically passed away this morning.
Fr Peter experienced a seizure and collapsed on Thursday morning and was taken to Midlands Hospital in Perth where they discovered significant bleeding on the left side of his brain. He was taken to Royal Perth Hospital where he was to undergo emergency surgery to release the pressure on his brain. Unfortunately the operation did not go ahead, as Fr Peter’s condition deteriorated. Fr Peter never regained consciousness and sadly passed away Saturday morning.
As Fr Peter’s body was on life support, after discussion with his family, the decision was made to explore the option of organ donation. As Fr Peter lived a life of giving, we hope that there may be a possibility that his last action on this earth will be one of offering and giving to others.
Fr Peter made a significant contribution to Oblate Education, therefore, we are planning to have his funeral once staff and students at Mazenod College WA return from school holidays. It is envisaged that there will be a memorial service, for Family, Friends, Old Boys and staff of Iona, the weekend before the funeral in Brisbane.
Fr Peter’s first year as a priest was spent at St John Vianney’s Parish followed by Massey New Zealand; he then went on to spend six years at Iona College. His next obedience was five years at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, as Boarding Master and Religious Co-ordinator. In 1992 he was based at Mazenod College, Victoria and then Natal Province, South Africa where he conducted parish missions before he returned to Mazenod College, Lesmurdie as Rector, from 1993-2001. He was then Rector at Iona College until the end of 2010, where he was the first old boy to become rector. Over the next few years, he had a sabbatical, assisted at St John Vianney’s andSt Eugene’s, and then served as Rector, Mazenod College Lesmurdie in 2014 and 2015. From 2016 through to January 2019 he was the Provincial of the Australian Province, following a short sabbatical before returning to Mazenod College Lesmurdie as Rector from April 2019.
We give thanks to God for the gift of his life, may he now rest in peace.
Fr Christian Fini OMI