The Diocese of Sandhurst gathered in prayer and gratitude as hundreds came together to give thanks and to pray for Monsignor Francis (Frank) Kelly Marriott at three special services following his death on 11 November.  Over these days of prayer and remembrance, parishioners, clergy, family members and friends honoured a much-loved and iconic priest whose ministry shaped communities from Bendigo to Beechworth and beyond.

The Requiem Mass in memory of Mons. Frank at Sacred Heart Cathedral on the evening of Tuesday, 25 November filled Sacred Heart Cathedral with hymns that Monsignor Frank loved.

The Vigil Prayer Service, at St Kilian’s Church on Wednesday, 2 December, was gentle and intimate with members of TEAMS of Our Lady, whom Mons. Frank had accompanied for 35 years, reading the Readings, saying the prayers and speaking of Monsignor Frank’s warmth, steadiness and unmistakable pastoral instinct. “Fr Peter Taylor, who led the Service, shared humorous anecdotes of his time serving as an assistant priest with Monsignor Frank, giving particular reference to Monsignor Frank’s competitive golfing spirit and ‘annoying’ love of the Collingwood Football Club. Humour aside, the service was reverent and in a spirit of deep gratitude for a priest who had touched the lives of every person present. As one parishioner expressed, “Mons. had a way of making you feel seen. When he asked you how you were, you knew he really meant it.”

At the Pontifical Concelebrated Funeral Mass on Friday, 3 December the sense of loss was met equally by a sense of gratitude.

Monsignor Frank’s nephew, Paul Hosking, thanked the congregation for attending, adding that his Uncle would be deeply humbled. Paul spoke of how profound it was for Monsignor Frank’s Funeral Mass to be at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. “He was baptised here, received his first Holy Communion and Confirmation here, was ordained here and became Administrator here (of the Cathedral), and now he is farewelled from here.”

Paul shared an insight to Monsignor Frank’s personal life with his childhood memories:

“As children, my grandmother would always tell us that our Uncle would be pope one day, and whilst he didn’t quite get to those incredible heights, I think she was proud of his achievements … We were incredibly lucky to have had him as our Uncle, and we knew it. The visits we had were often fleeting, but they were always special. He was always a man on the move. How he could get so much into a day, I will never know.”

“He was a complete man of faith, dedicated to his calling and a true shepherd of humanity, His vision and tenacity knew no bounds … and he knew how to engage and relate to people from all walks of life.”

The Honourable Howard Nathan QC spoke of his unexpected friendship with Monsignor Frank. The two men, similar in age, had lived parallel lives with similar public causes at heart until they became friends through their work with the Bendigo Interfaith Council. “I cannot speak enough of the joy of my association with Frank … we solved the problems of the world, we solved the problems of Bendigo …” he said. “He was indeed a politician, clergyman, friend, benefactor … he was at the forefront of an organisation which was not about pursuing religious objectives but pursuing equanimity and joy between the different faiths. The joy shared between faiths is itself a glory to God; Mons. Frank understood this, and we are all indebted to him for his forthrightness and courage.”

In his Homily, Fr Joe Taylor remembered Monsignor Frank as a man utterly “driven by the Spirit,” whose 63 years of priesthood were marked by extraordinary energy, creativity and pastoral devotion. He quipped that one of the Diocesan priests had once commented to him, “I get exhausted just looking at Frank.”

Fr Joe spoke of Monsignor Frank’s childhood wrapped in the love of a devout Catholic family and the education and care he received from the Mercy Sisters and later the Marist Brothers. He spoke of the way Monsignor Frank poured himself into service, nurturing vocations, championing justice, fostering interfaith and community action, and his dedication to his fellow clergy and the roles he played nationally to improve their wellbeing.

Most poignantly, Fr Joe spoke of the way Monsignor Frank remained spirited and prayerful even in pain, even when he knew his illness was taking hold. Referring to the Readings of the Funeral, Fr Joe acclaimed, “Like St Paul, he ‘ran the race all the way to the finish line’; his life aflame with the fire of God’s Spirit, leaving a legacy of faith, action and courageous love for the Church and its people.”

As the final prayers were prayed and the Cathedral bells tolled, there was a shared sense that the Diocese had farewelled not only a priest, but a shepherd whose gentle wisdom shaped generations. For some, it felt like the end of an era.

Watch a recording of the Funeral Mass livestream. 

Watch a shorter video as if you were at the Funeral Mass

 Photographs by Jenni Kennedy

Return to Sandpiper e-News 113 (12 December 2025)