FAMILY and friends are keeping a bedside vigil for the grandfather of the Sandhurst Diocese, Monsignor John Duffus.
Monsignor Duffus, who was diagnosed with cancer in June last year, is gravely ill and expected to be at peace within days.
Bishop Joe Grech this week spoke fondly of the religious leader, saying he was like a grandfather to parishioners throughout the diocese.
“He is a terrific man, he’ll be missed,” he said.
“Besides his commitment to faith and priesthood and serving people, he is a very decent man.
“His generosity, respect, dignity ... he is a very decent human being and that’s why he has been able to touch so many people.”
Bishop Joe said Monsignor Duffus had a “terrific presence” at Catholic College, where he
recently spent more than an hour with students after being asked how it felt to be dying.
“He shared how he felt,” he said.
“He shared his faith in God and certain values and told them to live life to the full, that life is too short, to help yourself and realise your full potential.
“Even during his sickness he was not afraid to speak about things.”
Bishop Joe said priests from across the region also have many fond memories of time spent with Monsignor Duffus.
“We recently had the chance as priests to thank him over lunch for what he had done,” he said.
“We told him we are going to miss him ... we were able to say it to him while he is still alive and he thanked us for doing that.”
Monsignor Duffus was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Sandhurst on July 12, 1962.  
After a number of appointments throughout the diocese, Monsignor went to Papua New Guinea in 1969, where he stayed for seven years working in Kap and Bomana.
Monsignor took time out to study spiritual theology in Rome in 1974 before returning to Australia in 1976.
In 1977 he was appointed to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, first as assistant and later as administrator.  
And after sharing his faith with the people of Bendigo for more than 30 years, the catholic community is now uniting in prayer for a man who has played such a significant role in their lives.
“He was like our grandfather,” Bishop Joe said.
“I feel very edified personally by the attention and care for Monsignor by the priests and people.
“It reminds me a lot of when Pope John Paul II was sick ... they have taught us such incredible things, how to turn negatives into something like a triumph.
“It’s been an incredible
experience for all of us who have accompanied him.
“It’s so edifying, so healing for all of us. Negative things can make us grow.”