Monsignor John Swann '50

Written on the 23 May 2018 by Old Collegians Association

Monsignor John Swann '50

Celebrates 50th Golden Jubilee in 2007

Excerpt from 2007 Rostrevor Magazine

Old Scholar John Swann ('50) will celebrate his fiftieth year in the priesthood this year. In 2005 he was constituted a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor.

Monsignor John Swann.

Swann attended Rostrevor from Kapunda in 1949. In 1951 he went to Francis Xavier seminary for three hours and then to Manly, Sydney, for years. He was ordained in Kapunda in 1957 and on July 22nd of year he celebrated Solemn High mass in the Rostrevor College Chapel as Rostrevor's 50th priest. On that occasion in 1957 he was joined by fellow old scholars Mons Tom Horgan and Mons Bob Rice as well as Rostrevor's first priest, Mons Maurice Bayard. Fellow old scholar Mons Barrymore Hynes was present in the Sanctuary. The Mass was sung by the Senior boys under the baton of Br Bill Greening and the accompaniment of Mrs. Mary Fountain. Afterwards forty Priests and Brothers enjoyed a 'sumptuous repast' prepared by Matron Duggan. 

Prior to his current role as Parish Priest at Tranmere and Rostrevor College Chaplain, Mons John worked in the parishes of Stirling, Parkside and Mt Gambier and spent twenty years in the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau.

Mons John was a contemporary of Br John Marks and Mons Barrymore Hynes in his years at Rostrevor. Other classmates he remembers fondly are Pat Pak-Poy, Jim Manson and Kevin Meegan. Br John Bourke was his Boarding House Master in this time.

The ROCA congratulate Mons John for this outstanding achievement. A Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at Tranmere on July 22nd 2007.

To Old Collegian Profiles