Poey Passi facts for kids

Poey Passi (born 1888 – died 2 April 1958) was a very important leader for the Torres Strait Islanders. In 1925, he became one of the first two Torres Strait Islanders to be ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church of Australia. Back then, it was called the Church of England in Australia.

Poey Passi's Early Life

Poey Passi was born in 1888. His father was the last of the Zogire. The Zogire were a special group of leaders who had both religious powers and the authority of a chief. They were also known as the Mamoose.

Becoming a Priest

Poey Passi started his work as a lay teacher. This was during the time when the London Missionary Society helped manage missions in the Torres Strait.

He later went to St Paul's Theological College, Moa to train to become a priest. In 1919, he became a deacon. A deacon is a church leader who helps the priest. He was ordained by Bishop Henry Newton.

Then, in 1925, Poey Passi became a priest. He was ordained by Bishop Stephen Davies. He and Joseph Lui were the first two Torres Strait Islanders to become priests in the Anglican Church.

It's interesting to know that the first Aboriginal person to become a deacon was James Noble in 1925. An Aboriginal person was not ordained as a priest until 1970. That was Patrick Brisbane.

His Work as a Missionary

Poey Passi worked as a missionary in the Torres Strait from 1919 to 1925. He started as a curate, helping Rev John Done at Boigu.

He then served at the Lockhart River Mission from 1925 to 1927. After that, he was a missionary on Murray Island from 1927 to 1931.

He continued his work in many places:

• Assistant Priest on Saibai Island from 1931 to 1933.
• Missionary on Yam Island from 1933 to 1939.
• Missionary on Badu Island from 1939 to 1941.
• Missionary in the Torres Strait from 1941 to 1952.
• Priest in Charge on Murray Island from 1942 to 1952.
• Priest in Charge of the Torres Strait from 1952 to 1954.

In 1926, it was noted that Poey Passi and Joseph Lui did not wear the usual Western clerical collar. Instead, they wore traditional clothing made of calico and a singlet.

Many people in his congregations believed that Poey Passi had special powers. They thought he could perform healing and had clairvoyance, which means seeing things that are not present.

Poey Passi's Family Life

Poey Passi married Alice Namok. They had five daughters together.

His nephew, Rev Dave Passi, was involved in a very important legal case. This case was called Mabo v Queensland (No 2). It was a landmark case about native title rights for Indigenous Australians.

After he retired, Poey Passi lived with one of his daughters on Murray Island. He passed away in 1958 when he was 70 years old.

His funeral service was held at Quetta Cathedral. He was buried in the Thursday Island Cemetery. His special priest's hat, called a biretta, and his long scarf, called a stole, were placed on his coffin.

In 1966, his remains were moved to a new church on Murray Island. They were reburied in the sanctuary, a special holy part of the church. Later, in 1979, a beautiful stained glass window was put in Quetta Cathedral. This window shows St Bartholomew and was made to remember Poey Passi.