www.donboscobc.com/pcwl/pcwl-ssbc/cv-tohill.htm

Brief History of Fr. Tohill

The following was prepared based on a "Curriculum Vitae" received
from Fr. Bernard Tohill on April 26, 2002.

Bernard Tohill
Aug 12, 1919 Born in Belfast, N. Ireland. (Fr. Tohill is almost 90 years old. His parents have passed away; and 9 out of 10 of his brothers also deceased. His only brother is now living in Toronto)
1933 Entered Salesian College in N. England
1936 Entered Salesian Novitiate in Oxford
1937 Professed, and arrived in Hong Kong, Shaukiwan in November of same year, to
study philosophy there (with Fr. Rosso!)
June 1940 Assigned to Aberdeen Trade School
September 1948 Assigned to St. Louis Schol
November 1945 Sailed to Shanghai to study theology (with Fr. Rosso!)
July 1948 Ordained in Shanghai, then arrived back in Hong Kong as a member of the seminary staff at Shaukiwan
March 1949 Left Hong Kong for Ireland because mother was gravely ill there
September 1949 Assigned to Aberdeen Technical School as Foo Hau Cheung, teacher of English, Algebra etc
1952 Succeeded Fr. Roozen as Rector-Principal at ATS
August 1955 Replaced Fr. John Clifford as Rector-Principal at St. Louis School
1958 Appointed Provincial
January 1963 Left Hong Kong to become Provincial in Western USA
1965 Elected in Rome to be a member of the General Council, as Regional Councillor
1971 Elected Councillor for Missions
1984 Returned to Ireland for one year
1985 Returned to ATS as a "senior citizen"
1991 Asked to look after the elderly Salesians at Shaukiwan, but he became very ill himself in St. Paul's Hospital, Causeway Bay. He was virtually at death's door but he made a miraculous recovery. He had to, however, retired back to ATS afterwards
1997 Loaned to the Philippine Province in Manila but again became very sick after only 49 days (suffered a serious stroke) and was obliged to return to Hong Kong. He has been at the home of The Little Sisters of The Poor in Ngau Chi Wan ever since
Febarary 2001 Had a 3-month spell at Tang King Po School; but, since the chaplain at the home of The Little Sisters of The Poor also suffered a stroke, he had to return to the home to help out again.
As to his present state of health, Fr. Tohill said, "Thank God! I can still walk and talk, and travel by bus and MTR alone."

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Bernard Tohill
Aug 12, 1919	Born in Belfast, N. Ireland. (Fr. Tohill is almost 90 years old. His parents have passed away; and 9 out of 10 of his brothers also deceased. His only brother is now living in Toronto)
1933	Entered Salesian College in N. England
1936	Entered Salesian Novitiate in Oxford
1937	Professed, and arrived in Hong Kong, Shaukiwan in November of same year, to study philosophy there (with Fr. Rosso!)
June 1940	Assigned to Aberdeen Trade School
September 1948	Assigned to St. Louis Schol
November 1945	Sailed to Shanghai to study theology (with Fr. Rosso!)
July 1948	Ordained in Shanghai, then arrived back in Hong Kong as a member of the seminary staff at Shaukiwan
March 1949	Left Hong Kong for Ireland because mother was gravely ill there
September 1949	Assigned to Aberdeen Technical School as Foo Hau Cheung, teacher of English, Algebra etc
1952	Succeeded Fr. Roozen as Rector-Principal at ATS
August 1955	Replaced Fr. John Clifford as Rector-Principal at St. Louis School
1958	Appointed Provincial
January 1963	Left Hong Kong to become Provincial in Western USA
1965	Elected in Rome to be a member of the General Council, as Regional Councillor
1971	Elected Councillor for Missions
1984	Returned to Ireland for one year
1985	Returned to ATS as a "senior citizen"
1991	Asked to look after the elderly Salesians at Shaukiwan, but he became very ill himself in St. Paul's Hospital, Causeway Bay. He was virtually at death's door but he made a miraculous recovery. He had to, however, retired back to ATS afterwards
1997	Loaned to the Philippine Province in Manila but again became very sick after only 49 days (suffered a serious stroke) and was obliged to return to Hong Kong. He has been at the home of The Little Sisters of The Poor in Ngau Chi Wan ever since
Febarary 2001	Had a 3-month spell at Tang King Po School; but, since the chaplain at the home of The Little Sisters of The Poor also suffered a stroke, he had to return to the home to help out again. As to his present state of health, Fr. Tohill said, "Thank God! I can still walk and talk, and travel by bus and MTR alone."