- John Masso
Juan Antonio (John) Masso (1932–2003) was the second head of
Opus Dei in Australia, succeeding Fr James Albrecht who established Opus Dei in Australia in 1963. His title was Regional Vicar of Opus Dei or counsellor of Opus Dei in Australia. [http://www.opusdei.org.au/art.php?p=8115 Opus Dei - NEWS - Fr John ‘helped thousands of souls’ ] ]Fr John was born in Barcelona on
June 17 ,1932 and joined Opus Dei as a teenager.. Later, Fr John studied Canon Law at theUniversity of Navarre and was ordained a priest in 1965. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/30/1072546528665.html?from=storyrhs A long-serving force in Opus Dei - www.smh.com.au ] ]Fr John showed transparency in his leadership as counsellor of
Opus Dei inAustralia . During the protests in the 1970s againstWarrane College , Fr John approached theSydney Morning Herald to showOpus Dei 's side to the story. Eventually, calls for the closure ofWarrane College were rejected by theUniversity of New South Wales .Fr John had many friends including non-Catholics, for example the Australian Presbyterian moderator, the Reverend Fred McKay. Whilst counsellor of
Opus Dei , the movement spread from Sydney to Melbourne, Auckland, Hamilton Tasmania with activities in Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong and many other places. Fr John was made monsignor by the Archdiocese of Sydney.Fr John died in Pamplona Spain, after passing by Argentina where he had a conference with the Prelate of
Opus Dei , BishopJavier Echevarria . Upon his death, a requiem Mass was celebrated in St Marys Cathedral by CardinalGeorge Pell included his predecessor as Archbishop of Sydney, CardinalEdward Clancy , the Bishop of Lismore, BishopGeoffrey Jarrett , the Bishop of Broken Bay, BishopDavid Walker , BishopDavid Cremin and Mons Masso’s newly appointed successor, Fr George Rossman. The preacher at the Mass said that Fr John had no enemies. CardinalGeorge Pell remarked, "That's not the Opus Dei I know".In an interview with the
Sydney Morning Herald , Fr. John was asked why, when such a command was basic to many Christian denominations and groupings, a special organisation was needed to promote the sanctity of everday work. Fr John replied, "Yes, you are right. But how many people do it?".References
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