Why my Catholic heritage matters

The journey of faith is different for everyone. And while it is immensely personal, it is also best experienced within a community. AFL legend Mervyn Keane shares below why his religious heritage remains important to him and why he’ll be making that clear in this year’s Australian Census.

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‘I was brought up a Catholic in a large Irish family on a farm in north-west Victoria. My parents – Bernard and Claire – were of strong Catholic stock. I was baptised Mervyn Joseph and later my confirmation name became Anthony. My godmother was Valarie Ryan and godfather John Keane – an auntie and uncle. Large families of eight to ten children were commonplace back then and the Catholic school – St Michael’s – was bursting at the seams.

I was taught by the nuns - the Sisters of Mercy from the Diocese of Ballarat. Mother Brendan and Mother of Good Counsel were the hard and tough leaders of the school and they ran a tight ship. Other teachers like Sister Cabrini and Sister Magellan were more kind and gentle. We prayed at home and at school but as a kid, it felt more important to get to lunch or afternoon play than recite a prayer to our Creator! Religion was very big at school and seemed to run in parallel to sports – namely football and athletics. In the name of Christ, we competed to win, and the annual sports carnival and lightning premiership in football against our neighbouring schools were annual calendar highlights. Reading, writing and arithmetic took a back seat for me as sport was everything and the nuns encouraged it as well.

I don’t recall ever having a “stand out” educator in my life, though I am sure the nuns tried very hard! But without hesitation, I would cross the street today to give a hug to the nuns who taught me and to thank them for my education.

I was an altar boy for five years serving at Mass every second Sunday. Fr Daniel O’Brien was our Parish Priest – another example of a tough Irishman with a broad accent – doing his best to instil the word of God in us. Under the financial guidance and planning of Fr O’Brien, the parishioners built a new Catholic Church in Wycheproof in 1967, which still serves the community today. Money was donated by hard working Catholic farmers of the district and local businesses, and other working families. This was a huge commitment by the community, particularly when times were tough during the frequent seasons of drought. The parishioners also built the school, the convent and the presbytery.

The Church gave us a sense of community and belonging, and a degree of strength and support particularly during the celebration of weddings or the solemnity of funerals. Indeed, in my mid-twenties I married Kaye at St Ignatius Catholic Church on Church Street in Richmond.

The most important thing in life is to be a good person. Christianity and my parents taught me these basic fundamentals. Be humble, be grateful and give more than is expected. In my mind, the Catholic Church stands for something. I carry that with me today and will make it clear on this year’s Census.’