From golf to Gaelic football: why this community champion says he's 'blessed'

In Parkes, Australia, 88-year-old Michael Lynch stands out not for age but for his tireless community service across charities, hospitals, and local groups. Through St Vincent de Paul Society, he assists homeless individuals; with the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst, he visits Parkes Hospital and local retirement homes twice weekly; he leads a prostate cancer support group formed in 2007 and has helped more than 100 men and families. Lynch arrived in Australia from Meath, Ireland on November 1, 1963, was ordained that year, and has spent decades serving as a priest and advocate, including a marriage in 1978 and his late wife Peg’s partnership through years of service. He was honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2026.