After more than six decades of priesthood, Monsignor Peter Jeffrey will retire from official appointments on Monday, February 10.
A man in his 80s, Monsignor Jeffrey smiles easily and retains his dry chuckle.
Eating ice-cream at his presbytery office in Mooroopna in the heat of a recent afternoon, he said he would still be there for his parish, and all in the community, after his retirement.
“My door is always open,” he said.
Monsignor Jeffrey has had a distinguished career in the church, recognised by the Pope and beloved by his community.
Ordained in July of 1963, he has served in Cohuna, Beechworth, Heathcote, Shepparton and Mooroopna.
He’s also been the Rector for three seminaries, in Melbourne, Fiji and New Zealand, something that still sparks pride when he recalls those appointments.
For the past decade, Monsignor Jeffrey has served as the Parish Priest at St Mary’s in Mooroopna.
But his life very nearly took a different path.
“I was knocked back from the seminary,” Monsignor Jeffrey said.
His initial application was rejected due to a family history of epilepsy, which was not as well understood at the time.
“The reason why I was knocked back was because you might have an episode during a mass, and I had to accept that.”
Monsignor Jeffrey was in the process of enrolling to become a lawyer when a footnote in a medical paper, and the support of his bishop, convinced the leadership that he should be allowed to become a priest.
He has spent the years since in service of the church.
“You try to live the gospel,” he said.
“You hope to change people’s lives and give some joy, and courage.”
In addition to his seminary and parish-based roles, Monsignor Jeffrey has held roles in education and has put a focus on interfaith work.
A member of the Shepparton Interfaith Network, he values cultural and religious diversity, and is a proponent of building relationships and understanding.
It’s a sentiment reflected in his heavily laden bookshelves, which include titles such as The Holy Quran, Evangelicals and Catholics Together, and From Big Bang to Big Mystery.
He hopes members of his community will reach out across religions and cultures to those around them.
As for his plans after retirement, Monsignor Jeffrey doesn’t show any great inclination to slow down.
Having lived a long life, he is still keen to continue learning from those around him.
He said the St Mary’s community would be left in good hands with Father Addin Doe continuing as Assistant Priest, and Father Joe Taylor, Parish Priest of Shepparton, temporarily acting as Parish Administrator in Mooroopna.
Monsignor Jeffrey will continue to reside in Mooroopna following his retirement.
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