 | Fleet Air Arm |
| Fleet Air Arm |
19 September 2003
One of the Navy’s most distinguished chaplains, Bishop Geoffrey Mayne, died peacefully on 14 September 2003 at the age of 75.
Bishop Mayne was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in 1956 and joined the RAN in 1965. He served extensively both ashore and afloat and saw active service overseas. He was advanced to principal chaplain in 1977, elevated to monsignor in 1979 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1983.
He served as principal chaplain of the Navy from 1982 to 1983. On his retirement from the Navy in 1983, he became parish priest at Mosman. Two years later, he was appointed Catholic bishop to the Australian Defence Force. He held this position until August this year when he resigned due to failing health.
Bishop Mayne’s vocation was of total service to his faith, to the Navy and to everyone in the ADF. Last month, despite his poor health, he achieved his wish to ordain his successor in a moving consecration mass at St Christopher’s Catholic Cathedral in Canberra.
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