THE RECORD.COM.AU REPORT: By Sr Frances Stibi PBVM
FATHER John Chokolich was born on 26 March 1917 in a little village called Sveti Stipan in Dalmatia, Croatia.
He was Croatian by birth and Austrian by citizenship as Croatia was under Austro-Hungarian rule. His family name was Žuljević-Čokilić. His parents were Luka and Jakica (nee Čulić).
John Chokolich arrived in Western Australia on 1 April 1924 with his uncle Josip. He was seven years old. His uncle Tony arrived in 1925 and his father Luka in 1932 but he returned to Croatia, leaving young John in the care of his uncles. When not at school, John helped in the market garden. He left school just before he turned 14.
John loved the Mass and its ceremonies. He learned to be an altar boy at St Brigid’s, West Perth and served the first Mass at the new St Anthony’s, Wanneroo in December 1932. He was confirmed by Archbishop Clune, having been prepared by the Sisters of Mercy at West Perth. The Archbishop asked him if he had ever thought of being a priest and he admitted that he would love to be one. He served Fr Goody’s Mass in gagoljica (old Slavic) and was present at the opening of St Mary’s Cathedral in 1930.
Archbishop Clune had taken him up on his desire to be a priest and arranged for him to board and complete his education at St Malachy’s, CBC Terrace. Just before he began his study, Fr Goody asked John why he wanted to be a priest.
He replied that he wanted to say Mass, to lead the people in prayer, to bless the people and to save souls and these ideals he carried with him throughout his long life. He continued to say Mass in English, Italian, Latin and Croatian into his old age. He spent three years at CBC. One of the College Annuals stated that “Chocks” was outstanding in two things – Latin and football. He represented the College at football and kicked the winning goal in the final match against Hale in 1936.
Archbishop Prendiville arranged for John to study at Propaganda College in Rome together with the future Cardinal, James Knox. There was a problem though. He had no passport as he was not an Australian citizen and by law he could not be naturalised until he was 21. He was issued with a travelling permit by the Yugoslav Consul and this was to cause another problem in the future.
John loved his time in Rome studying at Propaganda College, attending Mass in St Peter’s, witnessing the funeral of Pope Pius XI and the election of Pope Pius XII. In later years, he was in Rome with Fr Harry Brennan at the time of the funeral of Pope Paul VI, the election and funeral of Pope John Paul I and the election of Pope John Paul II.
In 1939, he was reunited with his family in Croatia after 15 years but his stay was cut short by the outbreak of World War II.
Life continued on at the College of Propaganda Fide but the streets were filled with crowds of Fascist sympathisers cheering the speeches of Mussolini. One day, in the company of other students, he ran an Italian army blockade twice, calling out as he ran the famous Mussolini word “vinceremo” (we shall win).
During the first years of the war the war sirens disturbed the air every night and then there were German soldiers in the streets of Rome. The Villa and part of the College Chapel were destroyed by bombing and a nun was killed. John kept a diary during the war documenting the way it affected the life of the students.
Because of the war, his ordination was brought forward to 22 December 1941.
No member of his family was able to attend but the Yugoslav Embassy enabled him to send a message and a blessing to them.
Other newly ordained priests now headed for home but John was not with them as he had no passport and was in danger of becoming a stateless person. He remained at the College studying Canon Law and Pastoral Theology as well as acting as Prefect of Domestics and saying Mass for them every day.
In June 1944, the Allies liberated Rome from the Germans and within days the RAF approached the Vatican expressing their concern for the spiritual welfare of thousands of Croatians employed by the RAF in North Africa as well as for other Croatians and Italian prisoners of war. Fr John Chokolich volunteered to serve in the RAF and was soon accepted. On 17 July 1944 he flew to Algiers to begin his new mission. He celebrated three Masses each Sunday – one for Slavic speakers, one for POWs and one for Croatian and Slovene partisans.
The Christmas Mass of 1944 was attended by 2,000 service men and women.
The Mass was in Latin but the sermon was preached by three priests – one in English, one in German and Fr Chokolich preached in Croatian, Italian and French.
While he was in Algiers, Fr John was goalkeeper for the RAF soccer team which won the inter-services competition two years in a row. Many programmes were set up to assist the Italian POWs. He became very involved in the day to day lives of all the members of his flock. And then in 1945, to his great joy, Fr Chokolich spent his leave in the Holy Land.
Fr John began to think of remaining in the RAF but the Archbishop called him back.
Just before he left Europe he celebrated Mass for a hundred people in the damaged Chapel at the Benedictine Monastery at Monte Casino where the Poles had distinguished themselves during the fierce battle for the Mount. He arrived in Perth on 6 June 1946.
His first appointment was as Assistant Priest to Mgr Langmead at Osborne Park which had the jurisdiction of Wanneroo, Balcatta, North Beach, Scarborough, Tuart Hill and Glendalough.
There were many Croatians and Italians in the area. Fr John was always concerned for the young people in the parish and, together with Fr Albert Lynch, he established a choir that Fr Lynch said was second only to the one at the Cathedral.
In 1948, Fr Chokolich was transferred and became Assistant Priest to Fr Frank Ryan at Midland with the care of Herne Hill, Mundaring and Chidlow.
Again, besides Australians, there were many Croatians and Italians in the parish. He did a lot of visiting at that time and was the only Assistant Priest in the diocese with a car.
During this appointment he had a brief spell as Locum tenens at Cunderdin, returning to Midland for a few months before being appointed Parish Priest of the new Parish of Spearwood on 18 December 1949. Spearwood looked after Coogee, Hilton, Kwinana, Jandakot and Peel.
Many of the parishioners were of Croatian or Italian descent. At this time his uncle Tony helped him bring out his sister, Maria, from Yugoslavia; she became his housekeeper. In October 1957, Fr John was appointed Locum tenens at Guildford and, in March 1958, he was appointed Parish Priest at Toodyay which included the areas of Jennacubbine, Baker’s Hill and Wundowie.
He found the church almost in ruins and set about encouraging the parishioners so that a new church was blessed and opened in November 1962. Ever interested in youth, he introduced basketball and within a year had six teams.
In 1967, after ten years at Toodyay, Fr John was appointed Parish Priest at North Beach where he was very happy. He was in the midst of planning a new church when he received an unexpected transfer to Highgate.
Here, he baptised and married many Italians and Croatians. Here, too, he formed friendships with Fr F Marlow SJ, Fr Joe Parkinson and Fr John Orzanski. He was a man able to make friendships and keep them.
It was at Highgate that Val Stevens became his housekeeper and friend. After a heart attack and open heart surgery in 1982, he left Highgate for Kalamunda where he spent six years.
In 1988, Fr Chokolich retired to Marangaroo and became Chaplain at Villa Terenzio where pastoral care was provided initially by the Cabrini Sisters and subsequently by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate.
After a long and eventful life, Fr John wrote his Memoirs. He was proud that he was recognised as an Honorary Pioneer of Wanneroo. He died on 3 June 2011 and is buried with Fr Albert Lynch and surrounded by his fellow priests at Karrakatta. In the final words of his Memoir he writes his farewell – “Thank you all and may God love you”.
By Anthony Barich
ARCHBISHOP Redmond Prendiville once said that Fr John Chokolich was the best priest in Perth, his successor Archbishop Barry Hickey told mourners at the Croatian-born priest’s Pontifical Requiem Mass on 9 June.
Speaking to a packed St Anthony of Padua Church in Wanneroo, from which Fr Chokolich told the Archbishop he wanted to be buried when the prelate visited him a few days before he died, Archbishop Hickey said the Gospel of the day aptly described the hope the congregation had for the late priest.
The Gospel of the day described Jesus being called by the Father to bring His people back home, saying “he who believes in Me will receive eternal life”. Archbishop Hickey said that Fr Chokolich lived long enough to see the Church in its good times and its bad, and love it all the same regardless. This love for Christ and the Church gave those gathered for his Requiem Mass hope as they prayed that Jesus receive the priest.
He said Wanneroo was also an appropriate choice for Fr Chokolich to have his Requiem Mass as his first appointment as assistant parish priest was at Osborne Park, which at the time extended all the way to Wanneroo.
Current Osborne Park parish priest Fr Michael Gatt said later that Fr Chokolich was stationed in Malta for the Royal Air Force when Fr Gatt was born there.
Fr Gatt was joined by 35 other priests, Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton and students from both St Charle’s and Redemptoris Mater Seminaries.
Archbishop Hickey said Fr Chokolich’s death drew a significant response from the Catholic community around the Archdiocese, with some people sending the Archbishop old photos of the late priest.
The Archbishop also revealed that he had written a preface for another published edition of Fr Chokolich’s autobiography, which he said will be published despite the priest’s death and will be given to a select few.
The autobiography serves as a revealing portrait of the Archdiocese, the Archbishop said, as Fr Chokolich spoke fondly of his many friendships with people, including clergy.
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