Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Bourke, Thomas

Teacher and pastor; born Chain of Ponds, South Australia, 5 January 1909; died Melbourne, 17 March 1990, aged 81.

Thomas Bourke was the third child of seven, and after finishing primary school moved to Adelaide and lived with his grandmother in the Jesuit parish of Norwood. His secondary schooling consisted of passing a bursary exam for Stott's Business College where he did his intermediate certificate in one year instead of three. From there he started work at 14, first for his uncle, then for four years in the S.A. Savings Bank where he stayed until he was 20. He joined the Jesuits, 8 March 1929.

His next five years were spent in Sydney doing his noviciate at Loyola College, Greenwich, and teaching at St Aloysius' College and St Ignatius' College. At the latter he was also third division prefect, and taught mainly English and Latin. He moved to the newly opened college at Watsonia, Victoria, for his juniorate and philosophy studies, unable to undertake university studies because he had not matriculated. While at Loyola, Watsonia, he lightened the lives of the scholastics by his much-appreciated productions of several plays and operettas, especially Gilbert and Sullivan's, 'Ruddigore' and 'Patience'.

In 1939 he went by ship with the last Australian group to study theology at Milltown Park, Dublin. On the way war broke out in Europe and the ship was held up for three months at Goa, India. He was ordained in Ireland in May 1942, and following tertianship in Ireland, he taught in both Ireland and England, returning to Loyola College, Watsonia, 1946-53, where he taught philosophy and was assistant to the novice master.

His next appointment was parish priest of Hawthorn, Victoria, 1954-59, where he enjoyed the pastoral experience. One legacy of this time was the installation of a stained glass window in the western transept.

In 1960 he returned to Adelaide as rector and parish priest at Norwood. It was during this time that the question arose about the future of the secondary school. Bourke was in favour of a multi-story city school on the Norwood site, but that was not to be. Those who lived with him noticed that he tried to avoid making difficult decisions, was not good at consulting others, perhaps because of absent-mindedness, but was zealous, hard working and kind towards the community. He was experienced as over-sensitive to criticism.

In 1969 Bourke was posted back to Melbourne and Xavier College, where he remained for the rest of his life. He found teaching difficult and the boys of a different generation, but he remained teaching English for a number of years. English literature was one of his greater loves. His students reported experiencing some of Bourke's enthusiasm and joy of literature. He was fascinated by language, loved cryptic crosswords and punned mercilessly, with a grin. He also wrote poetry in his earlier days, and articles for the Madonna in later years. He also assisted the editor John Hamilton-Smith with editing articles. In addition, he contributed articles for the Visitor, the journal for the Assumption Sodality.

He was a great lover of all sport, especially cricket, football and the horses. However, he was quite hopeless in remembering the names of his Jesuit brethren. In his retirement he published a book of poetry called, The City of Power, a rendering into English verse of some of the works of a Czech poet, Jan Zahradnicek, who died as a result of almost ten years of communist imprisonment.

After retiring from teaching, Bourke worked in the archives at Xavier, putting some order into the materials and writing memorable articles about the past.

For many, Bourke modeled a blend of wisdom and kindness, of dedication and service. He had great familiarity with the Spiritual Exercises that were the rock of his faith, sustaining him through periods of unworthiness and feelings of self-doubt. His trust in God was absolute. He was a regular retreat director, even engaging in retreats in daily life in his latter years.

He was a good storyteller, philosopher, parish priest and schoolteacher, a superior of communities and a spiritual guide, a historian and lover of children.

In his later sickness he did not want to be a burden to anyone, but accepted his declining ability to look after himself. His life was a mixture of leading and being led, of setbacks and disappointments, of kindnesses and achievements. Above all he remained a faithful servant of the Lord.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)