STERLING, Patrick Francis
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, 1882 |
| Home Town: | Yarram, Wellington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Roman Catholic Clergyman |
| Died: | Yarram, Vic., 30 October 1949, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Old Yarram Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1916: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1916: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Port Melbourne, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Death of Gippsland Priest
Very Rev. P. F. Sterling
VERY REV. PATRICK FRANCIS STERLING, who died suddenly on Sunday, had been parish priest of St. Mary's, Yarram (Gippsland), for 35 years. Born at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, 67 years ago, he reached Victoria in 1910 and was for four years, attached to the Sale Cathedral parish, where he had charge of the Maffra church. On the departure of Rev. J. Nolan for a visit abroad in January, 1914, Fr. Sterling was appointed to the temporary' charge of the Yarram district. His first work was the reduction of the parish debt and the commencement of the present brick church. On a site donated by the late Mr. Patrick Brennan,. Fr. Sterling commenced the building.
in 1915 and the then Bishop of Sale, Most Rev. Dr. Phelan, laid the foundation-stone of the church designed by A. A. Fritsch on October 15 of the same year. Four months later, Bishop Phelan blessed and opened the building which had cost over £3000. In the first 12 months of his pastorate, Fr. Sterling was instrumental in raising £2200 for the structure. During the First World War, Fr.Sterling acted as a chaplain with the A.I.F. and in 1917 returned to Australia on the hospital ship Karoola. . He was immediately appointed to Yarram, where Rev. W.B. O'Connor had been temporary, pastor. By the end of the same year, Fr. Sterling was . instrumental. in securing a community of nuns for his parish, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Fr. Sterling was a keen sportsman and did much to forward civic and social affairs in the Yarram district. During the recent war. he was an ardent supporter of the Catholic Welfare Organisation for which the women's guild of St. Mary's were very active.
After Solemn Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church, Yarram, on Monday at which Most. Rev. B Ryan, CM DD., Bishop of Sale, presided the funeral took place at the Yarram Cemetery.
Advocated Thursday 03 November 1949 page 7