Vale Dr Terry Horgan OAM RFD

7 November 1934 - 15 May 2024

This week we farewelled a true Jesuit Mission fundraising hero, Dr Terry Horgan. As an Old Xaverian and an honorary Old Ignatian, Terry exemplified Ignatian values by serving others throughout his very full life, and inspiring his family and friends to join him.  

Terry was integral to starting two extremely popular and successful Jesuit Mission fundraising initiatives – The Sydney Old Xaverian Car Raffle, and the Sydney Golf Day. Not only did Terry found and work on both committees for over 40 years and over 25 years (respectively), he enthusiastically marketed and attended the Jesuit Mission events and ensured they were inspiring and a great success.

Many in our Jesuit Mission family, especially those in Sydney, will remember Terry for his humour, passion, and always with a camera around his neck. As a good friend to many people, Terry used his charm, passion and boundless energy to encourage thousands of people to support marginalised communities by buying an Old Xaverians Car Raffle ticket, attending the Jesuit Mission Bazaar (‘the Indian Bazaar’), or attending the Jesuit Mission Golf Day.

Terry’s lifetime of service in fundraising for Jesuit Mission and other Catholic charities earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010. And in 2022, the Australian Jesuit Province awarded Terry with a Jesuit Companions Medal in honour of his long-term volunteer contribution to the Province’s mission. 

We share our condolences, prayers and love with Terry’s beloved family. The family’s eulogies at Terry’s funeral service were a wonderful tribute to an incredibly inspiring man. In sharing stories of Terry’s commitment to raising funds for vulnerable communities, his son, John Horgan, asked for a show of hands from the full church on how many people had purchased a Jesuit Mission Car Raffle ticket from Terry - around 80% of the congregation raised their hand!  

While Terry’s infamous ‘hole in one’ (on the 7^th hole at the Jesuit Mission Sydney Golf Day on 29 May 2006) was a legendary achievement, we will always remember Terry and his lifetime legacy as we witness the impact of his decades of service in the stories of thousands of lives transformed through the programs Terry helped make possible.

Vale Dr Terry Horgan.