Wednesday, 04 March 2020 23:21

A CELEBRITY MSC IN HIS DAY, MICHAEL FORREST

A CELEBRITY MSC IN HIS DAY, MICHAEL FORREST

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March 6th sees the 50th anniversary of the death of Fr Michael Forrest.  His brother was Fr John Forrest MSC, his sister Sister Mary Brendan (Bridget) FDNSC.   Born 11th December 1883 at Korong Vale, Victoria.  Died March 6th, 1970, aged 86.

Here is a report from the Sydney Morning Herald from 1939 (30 years before he died).  His several books can be found in the archives at Kensington.

REV. M. D. FORREST. Professorial Appointment. Missionary priest, lecturer, ecclesiastical professor and publicist, the Rev. M. D. Forrest, M.S.C;, who recently returned to Sydney after a long absence abroad, has been appointed to a professorial position at the Novitiate and Apostolic School of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, "St. Mary's Towers," Douglas Park.

Father Forrest is one of the most widely travelled members of the Australian priesthood. He has exercised his ministry in America, England, Ireland, in addition to Australia and New Zealand.

He is widely known as a contributor to ecclesiastical magazines in those countries, and is the author of several books on religious subjects. Before he began his studies for the priesthood in 1903 he was for four years a teacher in the Victorian Education Department.

After his ordination in 1912 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Father Forrest taught theology for three years at the Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington, at which seminary he had previously been a-student. In 1923 he went to America, where, as a member of the Sacred Heart Order, he worked for seven years. While there he lectured extensively in many American States. Before his recent return to Sydney Father Forrest was for several years on the professorial staff at the Sacred Heart College, Cork. Ireland. from Sydney Morning Herald 19/8/1939