Rev. Fr. Donal Taylor, S.J. (1923-2006) returned to the merciful Lord on 10 October 2006 after almost 83 years of devoted service to God and mankind. We at Wah Yan College Kowloon mourn his death not only that he was a priest whose presence in a Catholic school is infinitely valuable, but also that he was one of those great teachers who dedicated everything he had to the betterment of his pupils.
Fr. Taylor was born in Portumna, County Galway, Ireland on 6 November 1923. He entered the Society of Jesus at Emo Park, Portlaoise, County Leix, Ireland in 1941 and was ordained priest on 28 July 1955. Before he joined Wah Yan College, Kowloon, he had been briefly connected with our sister school as a teacher in the 1951-2 and 1957-8 academic years. He came to the Kowloon school in 1962 to teach Biblical Knowledge and English. He was Student Counsellor from 1962 to 1967. He then did a year of English studies in England; and upon his return in 1968 he revived our interest in dramatics. He was patron of the Cine Club and Head of the English Panel. He would teach until 1980 before taking a year’s leave for Pastoral Studies in England. He came back in 1981 and would stay with us until 1983 when he left for Sydney, Australia to take up parish work, a ministry he excelled in until his final departure.
May he rest in peace.