I first met and came to know Mons ignor Frank when he was appointed the parish priest of Wodonga. As well as being a parishioner, I was a senior teacher and Faith and Ministry Leader at Catholic College Wodonga. In this role I had the great privilege of working closely with Mons. Frank. I witnessed first-hand his commitment to young people and his willingness to create inviting spaces for them to encounter the sacred, especially through the liturgy. Mons Frank held out a bold and inspiring vision for the people of God which, in my experience, he always proposed and never presumed to impose. On the way, he wanted collaborators and not servants, and I felt honoured that he recognised my gifts and encouraged me as a fellow pilgrim and a lay-leader co-responsible for the mission. And, whilst Mons. Frank was willing to learn from others, he never wasted any of his time on what he saw as unsatisfactory ideas, flawed solutions or programmatic responses to complex problems. He wasn’t always right, but Mons Frank’s vision for who we could become was gold. Looking back, he reminds me a little of the portrayal of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, always on the move and busy preaching God’s Kingdom, fiercely compassionate, humble, prayerful and occasionally annoyed with his co-labourers.
Vale Mons Frank, a holy and wholly visionary and practical priest and human being.

Dr Chris Cotter, Director of Mission and Pastoral Life, CDOS 

Mons. Frank was an extraordinary champion for Catholic education and always supportive of our endeavours. He was creative and passionate about lay leadership - appointing the first lay Principal and the first School Board. His legacy abounds across Sandhurst which he loved and we loved him. He was a treasured personal friend.                                                                                       

       Philomena Billington 

Thank you, Monsignor Frank, for your years of service to the community, especially your contributions to the Bendigo Interfaith Council.

Bendigo Interfaith Council 

Vale Mons. Frank, a Founding 50 Benefactor and Future 50 Champion of the Ulumbarra Foundation. A true friend of our performing arts community.

Ulumbarra Foundation

Thank you for your kindness and great sense of humour. Your dedication to your faith, fellow clergy and Bendigo itself will not be forgotten. Go Pies!

Jody, former Diocesan employee

I first met Mons. Marriot when he became our PP at St Mary’s when our PP was overseas. He was a breath of fresh air. He established our first school council and provided many new and exciting changes to our parish and school. He was a wonderful support to myself and my family during his time at our parish. I developed a deep respect of and for Mons. Marriot. Thank you ,Monsignor, for being a special part of my life, parish and community. RIP.

Sheila Griffin, St Mary's, Mooroopna

When Patrick, my husband, and I first started coming to the cathedral after moving from Queensland we came into contact with Monsignor Frank. He was so welcoming and friendly to us and we felt very blessed. He continued that friendship by concelebrating Patrick’s funeral, he’d come back from his holiday to do it. I was exceptionally grateful for that. Bless you Mons ,Frank, you will be welcomed to your final rest after a lifetime of service. 

Margaret G Cathedral

Vale Mons. Frank. Thank you for your guidance when I was a seminarian and stayed with you back in the mid 1970s at Heathcote.

Michael Kukla, Sacred Heart Parish Westmead NSW

Our family has been very Blessed to have known and worked with Monsignor Frank. He was always readily available for help and advice and guidance in our family and spiritual life and shared our sorrows and joys with the true love and compassion of Jesus.

We offer this beautiful poem written by Maya Angelou as our tribute to him.

"WHEN GREAT TREES FALL"
When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, Lions hunker down in tall grasses , and even Elephants lumber after safety.
When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear.
When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes briefly see with a hurtful clarity. Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid, promised walks never taken.
Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us.
Our souls, dependent on their nurture, now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed by their radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves
And when great souls die, after a period Peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly.
Spaces fill with a kind of soothing vibration.
Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us.
They Existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better.
For they existed.

The Perera Family
(Travis, Hiranthi, Suren, Anoushka, Bruce, Chantal & Oskar)

Vale Monsignor Frank Marriot,
South African Anglican Archbishop and theologian Desmond Tutu said, "Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." Monsignor Frank did his little bit and more to demonstrate and nurture acceptance and humanity within our community and beyond. Through supporting collaboration with social justice advocacy events such as Palm Sunday rallies and his unwavering support for refugees, Mons. Frank lived a life of virtue, may he Rest In Peace knowing he made a difference.

Christine Cummins President -The Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) Bendigo

So sad to hear of the passing of Mons Frank, I've known him for over 20 years and witnessed his love of the Collingwood football club through his memorabilia. loved his sense of humour (a bit like the Scots).  RIP.

Anne McIntosh 

Return to Sandpiper e-News 112 (28 November 2025) 

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Monsignor Frank Marriott. His tireless work as the founding Chair of Bendigo Interfaith Council and his dedication to interfaith action have made a lasting impact on our community. May his legacy of kindness, compassion, and service inspire us to continue working towards a more harmonious and inclusive society. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the parish community during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Heri Febriyanto

Thank you Mons Frank for your lifetime of dedication and service in ministry. May you rest in the heart of God whom you loved so dearly and knew so well in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.

Lyn Breen

I will always be grateful for the beautiful words Mons Frank spoke at my mother's funeral barely two months ago. He said exactly the right things without even being asked. Such generosity of spirit and action, when he was already so unwell. I echo the words he used on the day and pray that Mum returned the favour and was there to help welcome him in, to his eternal reward.

Tim Nolan

A sad day to read about the passing of Monsignor Frank Marriott. As a non Catholic working in a Catholic Secondary school he mixed easily with the Church leadership, politicians and the rank and file. He was certainly not one to stand on ceremony whilst always maintaining a deep respect for traditions and proprietary. He was always ready to share his dreams about the proposed development of the land around Sacred Heart Cathedral. Whenever I passed his way he would always stop for a chat with much warmth and friendliness. I was very small in his big world but it made no difference to The Mons.

RIP Trevor Giles

Mons Marriott I'm truly proud that you were my primary school priest & then later married my husband & I. You were down to earth & always so welcoming. Kind hearted & humorous. We shared a common passion for Collingwood FC.  May you finally rest in peace.

Marcene, St Therese's Kennington

Mons Marriott I'm truly proud that you were my primary school priest & then later married my husband & I. You were down to earth & always so welcoming. Kind hearted & humorous. We shared a common passion for Collingwood FC.  May you finally rest in peace. 

Marcene, St Therese's, Kennington 

Mons was my first Parish Priest as a newly ordained man. May God indeed grant him his well earned rest. Resquiescat in  Pace, Mons. Be assured of my continued prayers. I'm sure there will ge a S/K Durif awaiting for you. 

Cardyhnain

There is a side of Frank Marriott that parishioners would not see.  He was very caring to his brother priests when things weren't going their way or they had a health issue, he was there to support them and guide them through it. God bless Frank. 

Mary Murphy

Our Dad died during Covid, Monsignor Marriott came to our aid to celebrate his funeral. He made it so personal though he never met him.  We were so grateful as it was a difficult time.  RIP Mons!

Deanna Keogh, Holy Rosary White Hills

      Monsignor Frank a fine Priest, a loyal friend with compassion and a sense of humor. His achievements were many. His life is well described in the notice from Very Rev. Brian Boyle.
      A couple of personal experiences, early October 2025, I met Frank at Footscray Railway Station and drove him to Epworth Hospital Rehabilitation to visit a sick confrere from Toowoomba Diocese, followed by a visit to Justin Villa to say farewell to Fr Barry Moran RIP, then back to Footscray Station for his return journey .
      I was honored that Mons. Frank made the effort to again travel to Melbourne to concelebrate Mass before my 80th birthday celebration.
      A lasting memory of Frank, on the occasion of the celebration of the 60th Ordination, representatives from various Churches extolled his contribution to the interfaith Council, particularly his stance in support of the Islamic and other small non-Christian communities.
      He called me 3/4 days before his death to say farewell. His faith was his strength as he approached death with courage and a strong belief in life hereafter.
      Condolences to Ruth and family.  Rest in Peace old friend.

Tony (and Mary) Tuohey

Vale Mons Frank
Frank and I met in Feb 1949 as quiet 12-year-olds on our first day at Assumption College, Kilmore. We spent time together as the youngest students in the class, sharing classes until 1953 and maintained contact until he went to Adelaide. Frank’s work in education brought us in contact again. He was challenged with setting up a school board in Sandhurst Diocese and I accepted the need to do the same at St Mary’s in Corowa. His advice was a great learning curve for me.
Moving to Wodonga was an opportunity we took to renew contact, and, when he ‘retired’ he would visit us and stay overnight, with an early morning swim a daily ‘must’. Frank’s presence on the altar at my wife Jan’s funeral, in recent months, was a shining light and I treasure the effort he made to be with us. My last visit to Frank was a month before his passing and I cherish the memories as he reaps his eternal reward. Thank you for your friendship.
God bless Frank- you were ’quite a man’.

Jim Regan – Corowa NSW

We will always remember his kindness and the safety he brought to our lives. Monsignor Frank's legacy will forever remain in our hearts. Fly high Frank we know you will continue to watch over us.

Sandra Whytcross (nee Scaletti)
St Mary's Heathcote

So many ways this very special man will be remembered in our family. He came into our lives from the earliest days of our marriage, Catechism classes at St Joseph’s, we worked with him and many others to establish St Francis of the Fields, he was one of Andrew’s first visitors when he was born and then he Baptised him….he played cricket with our boys …. In our hallway …. He holds a very special place in all our hearts…..He was one of the first to ring me on the fateful morning when Mum, Peter & Greg had been murdered, he invited our whole family to come a sit with him and chat as we all came to terms with that, he lead the Funeral Service and Burial, with care and love for all. At one point he was my boss when I worked at St Therese’s and nothing got by him! He co-opted me to make new choir robes for the Cathedral Choir, but more importantly than anything he would pop in home, for no reason other than to say hi and see how we all were and catch up with the boys! We loved you Frank and will never forget your presence our lives! We will miss you dreadfully though! Sleep peacefully pain free!

Maree St Claire

There is so much goodness to celebrate in this man. We are very thankful for his many years of support and friendship. He has a special place in the heart of the Heagney family. As he rests in peace we will hold onto fond memories. Rest in Peace Mons Frank. thanks for your friendship to John and myself over many years.

Naomi Heagney

Rest in Peace Mons Frank. Thanks for your friendship to John and myself over many years. 

Lorrain Gille

It is with deep gratitude and affection, that we remember Monsignor Frank Marriott. As he rests in the peace of God, we hold tightly to the many cherished memories he leaves with us.
 Monsignor Frank was a man of great passion, kindness and warmth. His friendliness, humour and genuine love for people enriched our parish in countless ways. He served with a generous heart and a joyful spirit, touching lives through both his ministry and his presence.
 He will forever hold a special place in the heart of St Mary’s Parish. May he rest in God’s eternal embrace, and may the legacy of his faith and love continue to guide us.

Laura Lawn, St Mary's, Mooroopna 

I count it a privilege to have shared the Gospel Journey with Frank, a man of faith, generosity, vision, love and selflessness. My particular sympathy to the members of Team 3, who cared for him in recent years.

Anne Hubbard, Kennington Parish 

Go and reap your eternal reward Francis Kelly Marriott. Was a pleasure working with you over many years.  Blessings and RIP 

Carmel Fitzgerlad 

RIP Monsignor Frank, after great service to Sandhurst Diocese and Bendigo Community. 

Cletus O'Brien

Thank you for your friendship and daily visits to my shop to collect your Bendigo Addy and "solve the world's problems". It was an absolute pleasure every day. You fought so valiantly and took your health battles in your stride humbly and with intrigue. A wonderful man has left us, but left an enormous impression on so many.  Rest peacefully. Go Pies.

Joseph (Joe) Gould, Ampol Bendigo

Thank you and blessings Monsignor Frank for your kindness and understanding towards my brother Michael …. His disability and his acceptance of it was an inspiration to all and your respect towards him was heavenly ...

Julie Wood

I played many a year of cricket with Mons. After we had a massive partnership one sunny Saturday afternoon, that night at church, he shelved his usual sermon and spoke proudly about what we achieved. He also conducted my marriage in 1994. We had a long family history that spanned nearly 70 years. I loved that man. RIP Father.

Darren Le Deux

RIP Mons Frank. You have left a wonderful legacy in Sandhurst. It was a blessing to have known you and to have enjoyed your company. 

Maria Weatherill

Thanks Monsignor Frank for the great acts of grace and mercy in the communities you served.Interactions with you were incredible, and filled with positivity, vibrancy and joy.
My prayers for you today is to have a sacred transition - May the perpetual light shine upon you, Monsignor Frank and May your souls rest in eternal peace.
Lastly condolences to your familiy and near and dear friends and colleagues.

Jiljilmary Augustine
Sacred Heart Cathedral