RIP, Fr Kevin Bates SM
Funeral, February 7th.
Marists and many others throughout the world mourn the death on Jan 31 of their confrere, spiritual guide and friend, Fr Kevin Bates SM (77). After months of failing health, Fr Kevin's last moments were spent at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, where he died peacefully after days of family and fellow Marists by his bedside.
Fr Kevin, the author of many albums of songs, hymns and reflections, is known not only for his musical talents but as a gentle, ever-cheerful and devoted guide and pastor. Prior to his retirement he had been parish priest of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill-Woolwich, NSW.
Kevin Bates, was born in Geelong, Vic, on Aug 13, 1946, the eldest of five children. His father, Albert, was a house painter and mother, Maureen, a full-time Mum. He was a first-day student of Chanel College, Geelong, where he completed his secondary education.
Entering the Marist seminary at Toongabbie in Jan 1965 and novitiate in Armidale the following year, Kevin was professed in Feb 1967 and ordained priest in Melbourne on May 20 1972. He taught briefly at St John’s Woodlawn College, Woodlawn, NSW, then at St Paul’s, Bellambi, NSW. His next appointment was to the parish staff at St Patrick’s, Church Hill, Sydney, before taking a Masters Degree in Theology at the Jesuit School at Berkeley, California, in 1974-75.
Fr Kevin became Socius of the Marist Novitiate at Toongabbie, 1975-80, and lectured in liturgy at Catholic Theological Union, Hunters Hill, from 1975-83. He helped develop the Marist Centre at Toongabbie as an adult education and retreat centre during the 1980’s before becoming director of Sydney’s Aquinas Academy in 1993. In 2000 he took a Masters of Education Degree at the Australian Catholic University, Sydney.
From 1980 Fr Kevin worked extensively in both primary and high schools around Australia with students and staffs, giving retreats, conferences and in consultancy work. He also gave adult retreats and in parishes a rough equivalent of the old parish missions. Marriage preparation and the celebration of marriages and baptisms formed a significant part of his ministry.
Fr Kevin composed and published many albums of music and contributed to a number of other musical publications. He contributed to various areas of mission, including ‘Spirituality in the Pub’, chaplaincy work for the Edmund Rice Justice Education Centre in Sydney and young adult education programs.
After an extended period as parish priest of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill/Woolwich, and with deteriorating health, Fr Kevin joined the community of Maryvale/Montbel, Hunters Hill, where he lived until his peaceful death at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, on Jan 31, 2024. May he rest in peace.
Fr Kevin Bates SM
13.08.1946—31.01.2024
