RIP Fr John Hayes
03 June, 2026
It is with sadness that we advise that Fr John Hayes passed away on Tuesday 2 June.
Father John was born on 30 August 1933 and ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Francis Rush on 5 August 1971 at the Church of the Little Flower, Kedron (Brisbane).
He served as Associate Pastor from 1971 to 1981 at the parishes of Holy Rosary Bundaberg, Sacred Heart Yeppoon, St Brigid’s Longreach and St Francis Xavier West Mackay. He was Parish Priest from 1982 until 2003 at the parishes of St Joseph’s Capella, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Springsure, St Patrick’s Blackall and St Theresa’s Rockhampton.
He served as Chaplain to the CWL Longreach, Eventide Nursing Home and St John’s Hospital Rockhampton, and he also served as Chaplain to youth groups in Bundaberg, Yeppoon, Longreach and Mackay.
The funeral Mass for Fr John will be celebrated on Tuesday 9 June at 10am at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton and streamed live on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/StJosephsCathRton
We give thanks for Father John’s many years of faithful ministry and pray for the response of his soul.