Fr Paul Mercovich died in Alice Springs on September 22 while on holidays. He had turned eighty in August. The Funeral Mass for Fr Paul will be held in St Arnaud on Friday October 13, with the Rite of Committal at the Ararat Cemetery later that same day. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Charlton on Thursday October 12.

Fr Paul graduated with the Primary Teacher’s Certificate from Melbourne Teacher’s College. He commenced at Corpus Christi College Werribee in 1962 with his Seminary years firstly at Werribee, followed by Glen Waverly. Fr Paul was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop J.P. O’Collins in Ararat on May 31, 1969.

His years of ministry in the Diocese were spent as Assistant Priest at Koroit, Camperdown and Colac before being appointed Administrator of Birregurra. He was the last Parish Priest of the Inglewood Parish before it became part of the Diocese of Sandhurst. Fr Paul spent six months as part of the Cathedral team ministry before being appointed Parish Priest of Ouyen (1978), Charlton (1984), Ballarat East (1987), St Arnaud (1998) and also again of Charlton (2002). Throughout much of the 1980’s and 1990’s he was the Chair of what was then the Diocesan Education Board.

May perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace.

The homily from Fr Paul's funeral Mass can be found here.