Just weeks short of his 100th birthday, Fr Geoffrey Schneider SJ was declared the world’s oldest teacher by Guinness World Records.  

Fr Schneider, who was born on December 23, 1912, is the first Jesuit in the Australian Province’s 164-year history to reach the age of 100.  He has taught in schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and has spent the last 47 years at St Aloysius College in Sydney.

More than 800 people gathered for an early celebration of Fr Schneider’s birthday, which was held at the Junior School grounds in October.  They included old boys from the 1950s to recent years, parents of students from the 1960s through to the present Class of 2011, past and present staff, and parents of incoming students in 2013.

At the event, Mr Murray Happ, Director of Development at St Aloysius’ College, said: “Testimony to Father Schneider’s great love of the College is that when we proposed tonight’s celebration, Father insisted that all the funds raised be directed to the College Bursary Fund.”

However, Fr Schneider did get a gift from the College – a Hawthorn Jersey signed by the 2012 team in honour of his birthday.  A Victorian by birth, he is a passionate Australian Football League fan and a loyal supporter of the Hawthorn team, which he demonstrated in September by travelling on his own to Melbourne for the 2012 Grand Final.

Mr Martin Lobo, Head of the Junior School, has worked at the College for 30 years. He described Fr Schneider as an inspiration to those who have worked with him and as a living legend to the thousands of children he has taught.

“If you ever needed a Patron Saint for the cause “eat, live, love and walk”, that would be Father Schneider,” he said. “Gratitude for life, a strong belief in God and humanity, self-discipline and adherence to a simple routine are the core ingredients that drive Father Schneider to the Everest heights that he has almost conquered.”

Fr Schneider, usually reticent to talk about himself, offered a few words that moved people to shed a tear or two. “Here is the century man. He is fortunate to be here.”

“Thank you for putting my name in the Guinness Book of Records. I hope to have my name also in the Book of Life which decides who goes to heaven – they say the angels wrote it. I hope all of you are written in it too.”

To read the Province Express story on his birthday and world record celebration, click here. 

To watch the BBC news report, click here. 

To find out how the world record came about, click here.