A BRISBANE priest who died just over two months short of celebrating his golden jubilee was farewelled from St Stephen’s Cathedral recently by a large gathering of priests and parishioners whose lives he had touched.
Gayndah-born Fr Jim Hynes, 77, had served in parishes throughout Brisbane archdiocese including Enoggera, Bulimba, Stafford, Bardon, Sandgate and as administrator of St Patrick’s, Fortitude Valley, for more than seven years until 1985.
He was also spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement and hospital chaplain at Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside.
Tributes were paid to the patience and serenity with which Fr Hynes battled long years of illness with lymphoma, first diagnosed in 1996.
Close friend Fr Bill O’Shea, in his funeral Mass homily at St Stephen’s on April 11, noted Fr Hynes had been called a “modern-day Lazarus” by Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby.
“At times it seemed his end was not far off, but these were followed by times when he really came alive,” Fr O’Shea said.
Another long-time friend Heather Joseph said Fr Hynes had borne his pain with “incredible forbearance”.
“For 15 years he carried this cross but was always hopeful,” she said.
“During his last five or six months in residence at St Paul de Chartres, Boronia Heights, Fr Jim was dying slowly.
“He would look constantly at the beautiful picture he had on his wall of the ‘laughing Christ’.
“The picture gave him so much comfort.”
Bishop Joseph Oudeman celebrated a Vigil Mass at St Columba’s Church, Wilston, where Fr Hynes had been assistant priest from 1989 to 1998.
His brother Maurie Hynes delivered the eulogy at the vigil and his nieces Maria, Francesca and Victoria Hynes read the Second Reading and Prayers of the Faithful.
In his homily the following day, Fr O’Shea described Fr Hynes as “a man of great pastoral zeal, and also a deeply spiritual person”.
“The amount of time he spent in prayer and meditation put me to shame,” he said.
Fr O’Shea said loyalty was another strong element of Fr Jim’s character – “loyalty to his God, his Church and his superiors in the Church, to the parish priests he served under, his fellow priests in general, his family certainly, and his friends”.
The Brisbane priest’s commitment to the Cursillo Movement was also mentioned.
“Any summary of Fr Jim’s priestly life would remain incomplete, if we did not refer to (this) commitment,” Fr O’Shea told the congregation.
“Even after his active involvement as diocesan spiritual director of that renewal movement had ceased he continued to seek out and identify men and women whom he thought would benefit themselves and the Church from doing a Cursillo weekend.
“In fact, many leading laymen and women in parishes around the archdiocese came through the Cursillo experience.”
A Brisbane Cursillista, commenting after the funeral on Fr Hynes’ dedication to the movement, said “Fr Jim loved Cursillo and was true to its charism – leading the person in friendship to Christ – and it guided him in his daily apostolic action wherever he was”.
“He encouraged many people to seek Christ and experience the joy of community through the movement.”
James Roy Hynes was born in Gayndah on April 14, 1934, one of eight children, born to Patrick and Sarah Hynes.
He always retained a strong affection for Gayndah, and was proud of his sister Doreen O’Sullivan’s book about the history of the district.
Ms Joseph also noted Fr Hynes was “immensely fond” of his many nieces and nephews.
“He had an incredible affinity with children,” she said.
“He was the greatest of uncles and I’m sure his nieces and nephews will have a memory of him which will last their lifetimes.
“Fr Jim will be terribly missed by his family, friends and fellow priests.”
In recent times Fr Hynes lived in retirement at Lutwyche until entering St Paul de Chartres Retirement Units at Boronia Heights.
He died on the evening of Palm Sunday, April 1.
Fr Hynes’ Rite of Committal took place at Nudgee Cemetery after the funeral Mass at the cathedral.
