In Memory

FR. BASIL JOHN KIRBY, S.F.M.
1917-2002

January/February 2003

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Fr. Basil John Kirby passed away on September 27, 2002, a few days short of his 85th birthday. Born in Toronto, Fr. Bas, as he was affectionately known, attended St. John's parish school and St. Michael's College high school. In 1936 he entered St. Francis Xavier Seminary and was ordained to Scarboro Missions on December 20, 1941.

Unable to go to mission in China because of World War II, Fr. Bas served in the Scarboro's Promotion Department until he was assigned to the Dominican Republic in 1944. He returned to Canada in 1950 to serve again in Promotion and did a year of study at Ottawa University. In 1953 he went to work among the poor in Guyana when Scarboro began its mission efforts there. In 1957 he returned to the Dominican Republic where he served until 1969.

His missionary service in Canada included work with our students, first at our Latin American Institute in St. Mary's, Ontario, then at the seminary at our headquarters in Scarborough, Ontario, and finally as part of our Formation-Education team working with Scarboro's first lay mission candidates.

Fr. Bas also served as Secretary General and then as Treasurer General for Scarboro Missions until his retirement in 1985.

He was respected among his Scarboro colleagues for his kindness, his quiet manner and his efforts to live a simple life. He served the Society in whatever way he was asked, dedicating himself to prayer and to the priesthood.

Prior to his death, Fr. Bas made arrangements to be buried with the most simple of funerals. And he asked that the homily be focused not on him, but on "the Divine generosity by which we are all called to be God's adopted children." A joyful Mass of the Resurrection was held on October 1, attended by his four brothers and other relatives and friends. Bishop Robert Clune concelebrated.

Fr. Bas was buried in the Regina Coeli priests' cemetery in Scarborough, Ontario. May he rest in peace.

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