Acknowledging Noel Mansfield MSC, 90 on January 1st
Noel had his 90th birthday while the site was on break.
Noel, a Queenslander, educated at Downlands College, made his first vows on February 26th 1953. During his seminary studies, he taught at the Apostolic School at Douglas Park in 1956.
Noel experienced a medical condition in 1958 which resulted in his having to wait years for permission to be ordained. During these years, from 1961 to 1967 he taught at Monivae College in Hamilton. He was ordained at age 34 – a great encouragement to others who had to wait for ordination for health reasons.
There was a famous story from Hamilton on the day of his First Mass, June 11th, a story which he recounts. Noel used to do a radio broadcast each Sunday morning in Hamilton, comment on the previous days’ football matches. The radio compere announced to the public that Noel would not be doing his usual broadcast because ‘yesterday Brother Mansfield became a father’.
Noel has served in a variety of ministries, teaching from Canberra, Daramalan, to New Britain, Chanel College, Spirituality, the Siloam Spiritual Direction program at the Heart of Life Centre, many years parish ministry in Adelaide, 20 years in Hindmarsh, then at Henley Beach. In more recent times, he is at St Joseph’s, Kensington.
He as written several books, commentaries on the Gospels and an autobiographical spiritual reflection on ageing, Dawn to Dusk.
While on Sabbatical in Ireland in 2007, Noel Mansfield was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. As his eye disease has progressed over the years, he has also come to recognise that by telling his story, he may be able to support others with this condition.
In Will I Go Blind?, Noel shares his personal and honest experiences of what it is like to be diagnosed with the disability, the kinds of treatments available, the reactions of friends, the need to learn new skills in life and ministry, and especially how it is possible to lead a full life in the community.
The book is for those suffering from Macular Degeneration and for their families, friends and all of us to overcome that ignorance of the condition.
Congratulations, Noel.
