‘Universally loved’ Stanthorpe priest remembered

Fr Lino Valente passed peacefully on Tuesday 14 September. Picture: SUPPLIED

By Jess Baker

Much-loved Parish Priest of Stanthorpe and Wallangarra for more than 40 years, Father Lino Valente, has passed away aged 93 years.

Born in Shellharbour, NSW, Fr Lino relocated to the Granite Belt at four years old, when his family moved to Texas to farm tobacco.

He grew up at a property on the outskirts of Inglewood, at ‘Bellbrook’, where his family continued to grow tobacco for many years.

Fr Lino studied with the Sisters of St Joseph Convent at Texas, Christian Brothers’ College in Warwick, and Marist Brothers at Mount Tamborine, completing his senior examination and seven years of study for the Catholic Priesthood at Pius XII Seminary of Banyo.

He was ordained on 29 June 1954 at St Mary’s Church, Warwick and spent his first five years of priestly ministry at Dalby before being appointed to St Joseph’s Parish, Stanthorpe in January 1960.

Fr Lino would go on to spend 43 years as a Priest at Stanthorpe and Wallangarra.

He retired in 2003, spending 18 months caring for his ‘home Parish’ of Inglewood and Texas before returning to Stanthorpe to live and assist Father Brian Connolly with ministering to the parishioners of Stanthorpe, Wallangarra and Lyra.

Four years ago, due to deteriorating health, Fr Lino moved into Lourdes Home at Toowoomba, where he passed peacefully on Tuesday 14 September.

Fr Brian, who recently retired after nearly 19 years as the Parish Priest of Stanthorpe and Wallangarra, said Fr Lino was “somewhat of a legend on the Granite Belt, having been the Priest and friend to many generations”.

“He shared in the lives, the joys and sorrows, and everyday life of so many of the people and families of the Granite Belt, not just those of the Catholic faith,” Fr Brian said.

“Universally loved and respected for his warm, charming, and humble personality, he will long be remembered by all who knew and admired him over his many years as their Parish Priest, friend and for his outstanding but unassuming leadership on the Granite Belt.”

A vigil mass for Fr Lino will be held at 6pm Monday 20 September in St Joseph’s Church, Stanthorpe.

His funeral mass will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba at 11am Tuesday 21 September, followed by the Rite of Christian Burial at the Garden of Remembrance.