Father Vaughan

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Some History of
The Church of The Immaculate Conception - Geraldine

Father Vaughan

Father standing beside the Tabernacle

Father Vaughan, greets parishioners on the steps of the Church after a Sunday Mass.

Father Vaughan was a member of the St. Columban Mission Society and has worked in many places of the world. He was full of wisdom. Photos: Lea Hullett, 1995

Vaughan, John Dennis (Jack)

April 5, 1917: Born at Oamaru, Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand. Of Dennis, Police Force and Rose Ann, nee McErlean.
Family: Father Vaughan was the second eldest of seven children. 3 brothers, 3 sisters. Two became nuns. One a Mercy Sister, and another of the Little Sisters of the Poor
Education 1922-27: 1922-33
Primary - Public School Naseby New Zealand; 1928-33
Secondary - Christian Brothers School Dunedin, New Zealand
Work 1934-39: Post Office Clerk
Formation 1940-46: 1940
Essendon, Spiritual Year; 1941-42
Essendon, Philosophy; 1943-46
Werribee, Theology
August 1, 1946. Ordination at Dunedin by Auxiliary Bishop Hugh O'Neill: 1946
Appointed to Korea but failed to get Visa
1947: Assistant 9 Months in Addington Parish, Christchurch Diocese.
China 1947-48: To go to Peking to study Chinese but nine months in Shanghai. Uncertain time. Appointments changed so half to go to Huchow and half to Japan.
Japan 1948-54: May 1948
Arrive in Japan; May 48
Yokohama, private language study and building parish house.; November 1949
Pastor Toshima, Regional Bursar; Janury 1951
Roppongi as Regional Bursar while building Columban Central House. Jim Doyle, a Bethlehem Father, was Director and architect. Dealing with fluctuations in money value and exchange rates a problem.
Movie Making 1954-70: January 1954
Photography work for Society in Australia; 1955
In Fiji taking stills and movies for promotion; May 1957
Film on Fiji vocations completed, ‘A Chosen Vessel’; 1957
Appointed to do film in Korea; 1957
US for equipment but movie van ruined on boat journey.; Febuary 1958
Seoul. Making movie of the death march of 50, working with Sean Dunne - story of the Church in Korea - a departure from the traditional descriptive film of missionary life, now requiring props, costumes and actors.; August 1960
English Daily Seoul ‘Epic Film Portrays Catholic History Here’; December 1960
US with film material, editing Korean films in LA while doing supply work in LA and San Francisco.; August 1963
Korean Epic is professional job. Pat O'Brien did epilogue and actor Greg Peck the narration. Contracts arise through Bishop Stewart's sister, ‘Red’, a religious and teach studio people's children from Desi-Lu; April 1964
RP to take movies; 1968
US for editing; September 1969
Writing script, expected to have Bing Crosbie as narrator but this did not eventuate.
ANZ 1971: Assigned to ANZ
1972: Promotion in Queensland
1973: Perth appeals
1974: Supplies in NZ. Pastor Pahiattua, Palmerston North Diocese
1977-March 86: Superior Lower Hutt
March 1986: Supply, then pastor, Geraldine, Christchurch Diocese
1996 Celebrated Golden Jubilee Geraldine