Vale Father Francis Moloney SDB

All at Garratt Publishing are saddened by the passing of Father Francis Moloney SDB.

We simply knew him as Frank, one of our favourite authors to work with.  His manuscripts were delivered on time and to the highest standards. His scholarly work was always so precise, his words inspiring, insightful, and true to the Gospels he so dearly loved – particularly, of course, John’s.

Frank’s relationship with Garratt Publishing goes back decades. Back in the early 1970s, he worked and developed a deep friendship with the late Garry Eastman, our founder.

We know too that over many years, many of our friends at Garratt Publishing – you, our readers – deeply respected, enjoyed, and were inspired by Frank’s spiritual and scriptural insights.

Formally, Fr Francis Moloney joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1970. He studied at the Salesian Pontifical University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and the University of Oxford. He taught in Europe, Israel, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Appointed in 1984 to the International Theological Commission by Pope John Paul II, he remained on the advisory body for 18 years.

In recognition of his services to religion, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992 and became the Foundation Professor of Theology at Australian Catholic University in 1994.

Frank served and led his beloved Order as the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco from 2006 to 2011.

His last academic posting was as a Senior Professorial Fellow at the Catholic Theological College in Melbourne, part of the ecumenical University of Divinity.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, noted, ‘The death of Father Francis Moloney SDB brings to a close a life of remarkable commitment, fidelity and scholarship’.

Frank chose to work not just with Garratt Publishing but with numerous publishers in many countries. However, without his support over many years, we at Garratt Publishing would not be the company we are today. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for his support of our Mission.

We are honoured to have worked with him, to have known him, and loved him.

Frank leaves us with an enduring legacy. One we should all be grateful for.

Vale Frank. We have been blessed to know you.

David Hughan

CEO