CARRUCAN PE, Reverend Peter Francis

Carrucan PE, Reverend Peter Francis passed away on Thursday 27 February at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Northcote, aged 93 years. After ordination on 21 July 1962 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne, Fr Peter was appointed as Assistant Priest in the parishes of Melbourne East (1962), Frankston Parish (1963), Coburg Parish (1965), Maidstone Parish (1966), Dandenong North (1969) and Kew Parish (1972). Fr Peter was appointed Parish Priest of Hadfield Parish in 1975 and then as Parish Priest of Belgrave Parish from 1982 – 1992, where he shepherded the community amid the tragedy of the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. He was appointed Parish Priest of St Albans South in 1992 where he served the parish, the hospital and the wider community until his retirement in 2010, whereupon he was appointed Pastor Emeritus. He was a steadfast friend to many refugees and asylum seekers, frequently visiting detention centres. At the age of 72 he took a sabbatical to walk the Camino, 707km from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela at a time before it was fashionable. The whole Archdiocese is indebted to his distinguished service to the Church of Melbourne for over 63 years. May he rest in peace. Priests’ Retirement Foundation.

“Caring for those who cared”.