A selfless man who devoted his life to youth development. This is how Rev Patrick Naughton, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) in Green Point, will be remembered.
Naughton (81), who stepped down as the CEO late last year, died on Wednesday 23 March. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January this year.
Naughton was born in Ireland and arrived in South Africa in 1960 where he served the young people of South Africa for more than 60 years.
He did his novitiate in Clonlea, Ireland in 1960, made his final profession in 1966 and was ordained in 1971.
He was appointed deputy headmaster of the then Savio College shortly after and taught maths and accounting. In 1978 he became parish priest of Lansdowne. He later moved to the Salesian Institute in 1980 as hostel master.
Naughton next served as Rector in the Daleside and Lansdowne communities for six years each, until he was appointed as Provincial Superior for Southern Africa (AFM) for six years until 2001 when he returned to the Salesian Institute as Rector and launched the Mission Office for AFM Province.
He headed up the Salesian Institute Youth Projects as CEO from 2001.
Frieda Pehlivan, Communications Manager at SIYP, describes the late priest as a “selfless human being” who was passionate about developing vulnerable children and youth at risk.
“He started the NEETs Employability Programme at SIYP and a pilot programme started last year. That was one of the programmes that he was not going to give up on. We did not have funding for this programme, and he didn’t stop. He was knocking on people’s doors, he was adamant that this programme is going to happen.”
Pehlivan says his determination was inspiring.
“This was Fr Pat, he never gave up. If he had a vision he made it happen. Youth development was his passion, vision, life and legacy and he worked 100% towards that. He never panicked.
“Even through the time when we had to retrench people and almost closed, he kept his head up and was finding solutions to keep it open.”
Naughton handed over the position of CEO of SIYP to Rev Francois Dufour at the end of last year.
Dufour says: “These are big shoes to fill, but with the support of the SIYP management team, staff and the board, I am committed to building on Fr Pat’s legacy continuing our focus on youth skills development and youth living on the margins of society.”
Pehlivan says even though they knew Naughton was ill, his death came as a shock.
“The idea was that he would go into retirement at the end of last year, which he did, he handed over the reins to Fr Francois, and then he would have mentored him over the next few years, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. May God grant his soul eternal peace.”
Naughton’s funeral service took place on Wednesday 30 March at Our Lady Help of Christians in Lansdowne Cape Town, with the presiding celebrant led by His Grace Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town, where family, friends and the Salesian Community said their farewells.
“His passing will leave a huge void at the Salesian Institute and Salesian Institute Youth Projects, and the Salesian Community, but his legacy will live on in the work to which he so passionately and selflessly devoted his life,” concluded Pehlivan.
