Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Guest Writers

Reflecting on the life of my friend Michael

byStaff writers
3 April 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA

Much loved: Bishop Michael Putney.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Much loved: Bishop Michael Putney.
Bishop Michael Putney.

Talking Point by Fr Joe Duffy

I PHONED Bishop Michael Putney a few weeks ago, as I regularly do.

We have been good friends since 1963 when we met as first year seminarians at Pius XII Seminary, Banyo.

My usual opening line when phoning Bishop Michael has been “Where are you? What are you doing?”

His response a few weeks ago: “I’m driving home from work. I’m talking to you on my hands free.”

This was the quintessential Bishop Michael.

He was terminally ill, energy levels depleted, but still courageously at the helm of the Townsville diocese.

When first diagnosed with cancer he could have resigned or retired but he chose to give the church and people all of himself, just as Pope John Paul II had done.

These were his intentions. He told me they were and he gave me that reason why.

Most of us who started at Banyo in 1963 were ordained priests in 1969. Every year in early January we get together for lunch either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane.

Related Stories

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Our reunion in January 2013 was ominous.

That was where Bishop Michael (pictured right) announced that he had recently been diagnosed with cancer and his specialist predicted he would not still be alive by year’s end. We defiantly toasted his good health and resolved to be reunited with him again in the same restaurant in January 2014.

Against all odds Michael was present, still  with us, this January.

Among the thirty students who enrolled at Banyo in 1963 Michael was the brightest and the youngest.

He had a brilliant mind and an amazing memory.

In 1971, I think that was the year, he was chosen by the Queensland bishops to study post graduate theology in Rome.

I travelled to Rome to visit him and other friends.

It was my first time in Rome and Michael put me on the passenger seat of his Vespa scooter and we set out together to explore Rome.

Michael’s motorbike skills did not match his academic prowess, but remarkably we did not have an accident.

Bishop Michael liked meeting people and had a prodigious capacity to remember names.

Ecumenism was his passion and his area of specialised study.

He made many firm friends among people of other faiths in many countries.

He combined his leadership of the church in Townsville with many overseas trips to inter faith conferences.

He maintained important contacts especially in dialogue with Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran traditions.

Each year I visited him in Townsville and went with him on pastoral visitations to far flung destinations in the diocese like Palm Island, Winton, Hughenden, Bowen, Charter’s Towers and Collinsville.

He was always welcomed in these places with warmth and affection.

I noticed how he remembered people’s names from previous visits.

He also recalled things these people had told him six months or a year before.

The Church has lost a great mind.

Fr Joe Duffy is the parish priest of Maroochydore.

[divider]

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Minister honours Bishop Putney

Next Post

Fitting tribute to devoted pastor Fr James O’Brien

Staff writers

Related Posts

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

27 May 2022
Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria
World

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Next Post

Fitting tribute to devoted pastor Fr James O’Brien

Sharing the love of Jesus

Bishop’s legacy to live on

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping