Hundreds of friends, family, parishioners and clergy have farewelled Fr David Taylor at a packed funeral Mass in Manly on Monday, remembering his life of service to the Church and beyond.
There was hardly a spare seat at St Mary's Church, Manly, a testament to the impact Fr David had on the lives of so many people, particularly in his nearly 16 years of service to the people of Manly Freshwater Parish.
Archbishop Anthony Randazzo, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay and Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, celebrated the funeral Mass, along with three other bishops and clergy from Broken Bay and other dioceses.
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne and a former classmate of Fr David's, flew in especially for the Mass, and was joined on the sanctuary by Bishop Brian Mascord of Wollongong, also a classmate of Fr David's, and Bishop Tony Percy, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney.
Archbishop Anthony opened the Mass by acknowledging Fr David's four decades of service to the Diocese of Broken Bay, encompassing its entire history as a Diocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter fondly remembered meeting a young David Taylor at the nearby St Patrick's College, Manly, in 1986, on their first day of seminary.
"On that day, David opened up about his life to me, because I'm sure for many of you who have experienced what I'm talking about here, I was struck by his candor and honesty," he said.
"Years later, he would share with me how he appreciated my attentiveness to him in all his nervous energy—boy, did he have a lot of that! We became friends that day, sitting at the table surrounded by many other strangers with whom we would come to take the journey of seminary life."
The Gospel for the day recounted the story of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, who meet Jesus along the way. In the narrative, it is only in the breaking of the bread that Jesus was made known to them.
"I can't help but think of that table on that day [in 1986] as our journey together began, because it takes me to the other table we've just heard about: the table of the breaking of the bread, following the conversation that had left the companions with burning hearts, recognising their friend and ready for the journey to share their story of meeting the Risen Lord," said Archbishop Peter.
"It is the same table here, around which we are now gathered, being accompanied by Jesus, awaiting His breaking and pouring out at this Eucharistic altar. David had made this Emmaus journey throughout his life—the last 35 years as a priest—and acting the same action as Christ did.
"Like the first companions, Jesus came alongside to walk with David. David carried the burdens and the joys, the wounds and the gifts of his own life, but with the hope of making the journey of his life a pilgrimage with Christ. He believed and trusted in God and hoped that he would see Him in His words and in the Eucharist."
He fondly remembered Fr David's "fussing" around the sanctuary, saying how we was always late and always on the move. But he said he trusted Fr David would now have found his seat in the eternal banquet hall, sat among the saints.
"There, we have been promised by God Himself that we will find a table bursting with rich foods and fine wines," he said.
"It is a table where life is lived to the full, having lived this life with all its joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties; that is the life of the followers of Christ. We pray today for our friend David, that he is now at that table, wearing the wedding garment of healing and cleansing from all life's burdens, and delighting in the knowledge that he is with the one who he had always recognised in the breaking of the bread."
The liturgy concluded with a few words from Fr David's brother-in-law, Jamie Vernon. He thanked all those who had attended and said their presence and prayers had provided great comfort to the family.
"David's life was one of service: first as a social worker, then as a priest, and always as a compassionate and steady presence to those around him. He will be remembered not only for what he did, but for the way he made people feel—heard, cared for, and valued," Jamie said.
"He often said that when he retired, he didn't want to move from the Northern Beaches because the parish and the parishioners here were his family. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and quiet strength. And although he has now returned to God, his presence remains in the lives he touched, the families he comforted, and the community he served so faithfully."
Fr David Ranson, Vicar General of the Diocese of Broken Bay, led the Vigil liturgy on Sunday night at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Frenchs Forest. You can read his homily from the liturgy here (PDF 77.1KB).
Following the funeral, Fr David Taylor's body was taken to Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery for a private internment.
Requiescat in pace.