Blessed journey: Cobram Catholic priest Fr John Corcoran is reitiring.
Photo by
Gabriel Garcia
“Thank you for the welcome, for the companionship and the friendship,” were the reflective words by Cobram parish priest Father John Corcoran to the Cobram community as he approaches his retirement.
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Fr Corcoran has been the Catholic priest at Cobram for almost 34 years, having transferred from Beechworth in January 1990.
His last mass before he retires is Monday, December 25.
It has been a long journey for Fr. Corcoran, who was ordained a priest in 1979.
Talking to the Courier, Fr Corcoran said the best part about being the priest in Cobram is being part of the fabric of the community and watching it move and grow over the years.
“ They say, ‘You don’t become a local until you’ve been here for 25 years’. Well, I feel as though I’ve become a local,” Fr Corcoran said.
As the sole parish priest for many years, he has witnessed the growth of the town’s population and has celebrated the milestones of many people, from their baptisms, confirmations to weddings.
“If you’re in a place for long enough, you do the baptisms, you see the growth over the years, and then because of the length of time, for many of them, you do the weddings and the baptisms of their children,” he said.
In his 34 years in the town, Cobram parish has conducted 1443 baptisms, roughly 329 weddings and around 640 funerals, many of which Fr Corcoran presided over.
He has also provided religious roles at public events such as ANZAC and Remembrance Day.
Religious duties: Fr Corcoran reads out a prayer at the 2022 Remembrance Day service.
Photo by
Gabriel Garcia
Fr Corcoran has described the experience of being part of people’s most important life moments as being part of a grand family.
“You sort of become an honoury spiritual grandfather ... that’s part of the enrichment of the parish,” he said.
Asked whether being a priest in a small country town is hard, Fr Corcoran said it’s much easier than being in the big metropolitan cities.
“You’re connected with people. You’re not just providing a service,” he said.
“You start to be part of the community of the town and the community of families.”
Asked what it feels like approaching his final mass, Fr Corcoran said it was a mixture of emotions.
“Daunting, exciting and sad,” he said.
St Joseph’s Primary School Cobram principal Sarah Iddles has praised Fr Corcoran‘s years of service to the community and thanked him for his guidance and countless of blessings he has shared with the school’s community.
“Father John Corcoran has played an integral part in St. Joseph's School for so many, and I would like to acknowledge all that he has contributed to Catholic Education, our school, and the parish over the last 33 years,” she said.
“Throughout his time here at St Joseph’s, we have been blessed to have shared many of our Sacraments with him - Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and many other liturgical celebrations.”
