10 September 2021
It is with great sadness that we share with you that Fr James Duck, a much loved member of the presbyterate of our Diocese of Broken Bay, passed away on Thursday, 9 September at his home in North Ryde, aged 87.
Fr Jim was a remarkable presence in our Diocese, participating with great generosity in the life of the presbyterate right through to his death and maintaining an active ministry throughout his retirement supporting our priests by his gracious availability for supply.
Fr Jim was born on 15 December 1933 in Junee, NSW to Francis George Duck and Linda Josephine Duck. He attended primary school at both St Joseph’s Convent, Junee and Our Lady of Lourdes Convent, Eastwood and secondary school at De La Salle College, Marrickville and St Columba’s Springwood. Fr Jim’s seminary studies where at St Columba’s College, Springwood and then St Patrick’s College, Manly. He was ordained on 20 July 1957 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney by Cardinal Gilroy.
Prior to the establishment of our Diocese of Broken Bay in 1986, Fr Jim served as assistant priest in a number of Parishes including Panania, Woollahra, Ryde, Gosford, North Ryde, Marayong, Rozelle, Leura, Merrylands, Gymea and Rozelle. He also undertook ministry as a chaplain at Sydney University and as priest on loan to the Diocese of Wollongong.
Fr Jim’s first appointment as Parish Priest was in Gosford in 1977, an appointment he held when the Diocese of Broken Bay was established in 1986, through to 1988. From 1988 to 1993 he was the Chaplain to the Military Ordinariate. In 1994 he returned to Broken Bay as the Parish Priest of Narrabeen, where he remained until his retirement from active ministry in 1999.
In July this year Fr Jim celebrated the 64th anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood.
Fr Jim’s funeral will take place at 10.00am at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara on Monday 27 September 2021. Live streaming will be available on the Hornsby Cathedral YouTube page.
We give God thanks for Fr James Duck’s long and fruitful ministry as a priest, and now commend him to Almighty God.
“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”