'The sudden death of former Henderson Parish priest Father Matthias Murphy is being mourned throughout the west. Father Matthias, 78, died on January 31, and was a familiar face at the Holy Cross Church where he worked for more than 27 years. But he was also well known in the wider community where he often counselled married couples and worked with troubled youths.

The popular Irishman dedicated himself to a life of celibacy when he entered the Catholic priesthood 50 years ago. The people of west Auckland were, he said, like the offspring he never had. "Sometimes it looks good to have children," he said. "It’s basic human instinct. But I’ve got a family of more than a thousand in west Auckland."'

read the full article at New Zealand's ArchiveStuff.com