Father John Varvaris struck and injured elderly parishioner with car at San Souci

A priest who has been highly devoted to the community for more than half a decade will learn his fate for an “unfortunate accident” where he struck a parishioner with his car.

Father John Varvaris, 85, was selflessly driving a woman back from praying with him at her husband’s grave before she was tragically struck and sustained life-changing injuries. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A priest who has been highly devoted to the community for more than half a decade will have to wait to learn his fate for an “unfortunate accident” where he struck a parishioner with his car.

Father John Varvaris, 85, had driven a woman home after they prayed together at her husband’s grave before she was tragically struck and sustained life-changing injuries.

The San Souci man appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Father Varvaris was driving a woman, who he had known through his church, to her late husband’s grave where he said prayers on September 24, 2022.

Varvaris, who was 85 at the time, then drove the 87-year-old woman back to her San Souci home where she got out of the car and walked a short distance away.

He intended to reverse but did not put the car in reverse gear and instead accelerated forward.

Father John Varvaris appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The car propelled towards the woman who was standing to the left of the car when she was struck and fell face first into a knee-high brick fence.

Varvaris immediately helped the woman and called Triple 0, with police and paramedics attending a short time later to treat the woman for a large gash to her face which caused a de-gloving of her facial skin.

She was taken to St George Hospital and Varvaris returned a negative blood alcohol result.

Investigations revealed there was no mechanical defect to the car, court documents said.

Police contacted the woman’s doctor who confirmed she needed long-term treatment for her injuries and required non-elective plastic surgery to help the healing process.

The woman sustained a brain bleed, facial laceration and broken teeth, injuries to her eye and an ankle and foot fracture.

She has been unable to walk unassisted since the collision, documents said.

The Father will be sentenced next month.

In court, Varvaris’ lawyer said the Father would continue to suffer guilt for the “unfortunate accident” for the rest of his days.

He said his client had “momentary inattention” and the consequences were unintentional.

The court heard Varvaris’ children had also instigated for their father to have a restriction placed on his licence to not travel more than 15km per day at the time, because of the hours he was serving the community and not taking a rest breaks.

The court heard Varvaris had no criminal history and had devoted his life in a “selfless and unwavering way” to the community and Christianity for more than 50 years, having received accolades and honours.

The lawyer tendered a transcript of a parliamentary speech Premier and Kogarah MP Chris Minns made about Varvaris in 2021 where he spoke of his “extraordinary life and work”.

The court heard Varvaris had his licence cancelled on medical grounds in December 2022 and over the course of his 58 years driving only had 16 minor traffic offences.

Magistrate Philip Stewart adjourned the case for sentence to April 2.

Originally published as Father John Varvaris struck and injured elderly parishioner with car at San Souci