Paul Henry Blumenthal

The Provincial of AUSTRALIA announced the death of Br. Paul Henry (Eric) BLUMENTHAL (religious name Eric).

He passed away peacefully on 5th October 2018. He was 86 years old and 66 of marist life.

Paul Henry Blumenthal was born in Sydney on 13 May 1932 to Stella and Max Blumenthal. His mother was a hairdresser and his father, a taxi driver. He had two brothers, Peter, already deceased, and Max – who, prior to his ordination, was a Brother, and is now resident Chaplain to the Community at Randwick. Eric’s closest surviving relatives after Max, are his sister-in-law, two nephews, niece and their families.

Eric met the Brothers during his schooling at Randwick and entered the Juniorate in January 1950. He followed the normal formation processes of the time and took first vows in July 1952. He had a one-year scholasticate at Drummoyne in 1953 and made his perpetual profession at Mittagong in January 1958.

His teaching ministry found him at Kogarah, Hunters Hill, the Mittagong Juniorate, North Sydney, Randwick and Enoggera. After his study at Corpus Christi College in London in 1967-68 he specialised in Catechetics / Religious Education and made a significant contribution in the Sydney Province through bis membership of the Education Team in the period 1974-1976. Des Murphy describes Eric as a trail-blazer in this all important area.

From 1977 to 1995 Eric was based in Brisbane mostly. He initially worked as a Religious Education Consultant in the Catholic Education Office, and for the next ten years made a significant contribution to the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenism. Here he developed important and long-lasting relationships.

Eric was a keen reader and theologian, and completed a Masters in Theology at the Australian Catholic University in 2003. He relished the opportunity to read widely in spirituality and scripture.