Dear Wah Yan Community,

Peace of Christ.

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Jesuit, Fr. John Russell, S.J. in St. Paul’s Hospital on 22nd September, 2023 at the age of 97.

Fr. Russell was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 24 Aug, 1926. He entered the Society of Jesus on 12 Nov, 1943, and was ordained as a priest in 1957 in Milltown Park. He was sent to Hong Kong for learning Cantonese in 1951. After completing his doctorate studies of Canon Law at Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he was sent to Hong Kong again for mission since 1962. He was the Rector of Wah Yan College, Kowloon from 1968-1972, Provincial of the Jesuit Vice-Province of Hong Kong from 1972 to 1978, the Warden of Ricci Hall, the University of Hong Kong from 1978 to 1990, and the Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal of the Diocese of Hong Kong from 1986 to 2012.

He was a beloved Jesuit who made significant contributions to various communities in Hong Kong, and particularly, the Wah Yan Community. His being the supervisor (90-93) and rector (93-07) of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, demonstrated his commitment to nurturing future leaders through education. In his later years, he resided in our fathers’ quarter, witnessing the growth and changes of the College and Wahyanites, sending us blessings and being our symbolic figure whom we all loved and revered.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his love for, and his contributions to the Wah Yan community. Arrangement of the funeral and burial will be announced later. May he rest in peace.

Yours in Our Lord,
Fr. Clement Tsui, S.J.
Supervisor