Obituary of Father Patrick M. Boyle, O.S.M. by Friar Servants of Mary – USA Province
Fr. Patrick M. Boyle O.S.M., a solemn professed friar, priest and member of the Australian Delegation of the USA Province, died peacefully at 4am Sunday 2 August at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Western Australia. Fr. Patrick, (Paddy), had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s approximately 17 years ago and has been cared for in a nursing home for the last 8 years.
Fr. Boyle was born March 7, 1930, in Letterkenny, Donegal Ireland. He entered the Servite Order in Benburb, Co. Tyrone, in 1949, and was ordained on July 8, 1956. He was among the first young men whoattached themselves to the Servite Order after its foundation in Ireland following World War II. He studied his Philosophical courses in Benburb Priory and theology in Lake Bluff (Chicago, Illinois). Shortly after ordination he was assigned to the Servite parish in Belen, New Mexico as assistant priest. In 1960, he was sent to the young foundation of the Servite Order in Australia and remained here for the rest of his life. St. Anthony’s in Wanneroo was not only his first assignment but remained his principal ministry. Starting in a very challenging parish set-up on the peripheries of Perth, he labored over many years, building the community, ministering to the spiritual needs of the people, becoming almost an icon of the local community. In the early days, the Italian and Croatian market-gardeners were a special care and concern, but as the area developed he was always a stalwart supporter of the incoming residents. Only near the end of his lengthy ministry did he enjoy the privilege of building the large modern church which is seen today. Father Paddy also served as the first Servite in the parish of Our Lady of the Way in Kingsbury, Victoria, and at St. Denis, Joondanna, W.A. Here he gave the same pastoral care which won.