Born: 11 December 1890, Redfern, Sydney, Australia
Entered: 14 August 1914, Loyola, Greenwich, Australia (HIB)
Final Vows: 15 August 1925, Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne, Australia
Died: 07 December 1978, Caritas Christi Hospice, Kew - Australiae Province (ASL)

Part of the Campion College, Kew, Melbourne, Australia community at the time of death

Transcribed HIB to ASL : 05 April 1931

Younger brother of Walter - RIP 1968

◆ David Strong SJ “The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit Biography 1848-2015”, 2nd Edition, Halstead Press, Ultimo NSW, Australia, 2017 - ISBN : 9781925043280
Vincent Johnson, one of two brothers who entered the Society joined 14 August 1914. Johnson had not a very robust constitution during his noviciate, and moved to Sevenhill after his vows. Here he was refectorian, and showed signs of mild epilepsy. His final vows were taken on 15 August 1925.
The climate at Sevenhill seemed to restore his health so much that in the early 1930s Johnson was stationed at Xavier College where he was manager of the domestic staff and ran the famous Jersey stud at the farm. Soon after the farm was sold to pay off debts, Johnson was moved to the Messenger Office, replacing Brother Paul Duffy, who had been manager for many years. Father Eustace Boylan did not seem to have the necessary financial acumen to balance the books, but Johnson soon sorted out the financial situation and restored balance to the financial department. He moved on to help the province procurator, Philip Gleeson, at Campion College, Kew. In 1964 he celebrated his golden jubilee, well publicised in the Catholic press. He spent the years 1965-66 at the provincial residence, still helping the bursar at Campion College. This work was believed to be too heavy for him, and in 1967 he retired to Loyola College, the noviciate. Here he spent much of his time praying and writing out prayers for anyone interested. Sisters on retreat were frequency targets for these leaflets. The revised rite of the Mass was especially appreciated by Johnson who enjoyed greeting everyone near him at the 'kiss of peace'. He also had to be restrained at the prayers of the faithful. Even in his 80s he was as irrepressible as ever. He survived many emergency visits to hospital. When the noviciate moved to Sydney in 1974, Johnson chose to remain in Melbourne at Campion College. That year he celebrated his diamond jubilee. His speech reflected the happy personality that he always projected. However, he was never happier than during his time in hospital, and when he entered the hospice, Caritas Christi, his joy was complete.

Born: 02 September 1888, Redfern, Sydney, Australia
Entered: 01 February 1915, Loyola, Greenwich, Australia (HIB)
Final Vows: 02 February 1925, St Ignatius College Riverview, Sydney, Australia
Died: 14 September 1968, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney, Australia - Australiae Province (ASL)

Transcribed HIB to ASL : 05 April 1931

Older brother of Vincent - RIP 1978
◆ David Strong SJ “The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit Biography 1848-2015”, 2nd Edition, Halstead Press, Ultimo NSW, Australia, 2017 - ISBN : 9781925043280
Walter Johnson, brother of Vincent, was educated by the Marist Brothers, Broadway, and worked in Lasseter's store for seven years before entering the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 1 February 1915 . Then he spent the rest of his Jesuit life at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1917-68.
Apart from domestic duties, his special work was as accountant and bookkeeper. From time to time he was also storekeeper, dispenser, sacristan, in charge of the farm and garden, and ran the tuck shop. He was also a regular referee at games.
He was an institution at the college during those years, and was recognised by the community as most regular in his religious duties. He was a good community man, and accumulated a huge fund of stories about Jesuits and boys, and became a sort of repository of college tradition. He died suddenly in his chair in the community library on the day of the Indian Bazaar.
His life, uneventful and confined within the walls of one school, was marked by hard work, a strong sense of community and much charity The Old Boys, in a show of appreciation, gave him a dinner to mark his golden jubilee as Jesuit and presented a ciborium to the chapel in recognition of his years of service. He loved cricket and was a supporter of the Collingwood football team.