Gravestone: "Parish Priest, Nanango."

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 24:

Bergin, James, Australian
Product of St. Joseph's, Hunters Hill
b. at Sandford on the Burnett R., Q'land; ed. at local State School; St. Joseph's, Hunters Hill; St. Patrick's Manly; ord. in Syd. 28.10.1898; served at St. Stephen's, Bris., Goodna, Beaudesert for 9 years where he built church at Boonah. P.P. at Nanango '09-'14 where he built several churches and a convent. d. suddenly on 11.5.1914. A memorial church to his honour in Nanango.
(See Footprints, Vol. 1, No. 4)
Ref.: 'Catholic Miscellany', by Fr. Jeremiah O'Leary.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, pp 142-143:
Fr James Bergin

Fr James Bergin was the second Brisbane born priest to be educated at and ordained a priest from St Patrick's College at Manly. He was the first of those priests to die.

James was born on 6 May 1875 as the second youngest of the ten children of John Delaney and Jane (nee Moore) Bergin.(1) Two of his sisters joined the Mercy congregation: Esther as Sister Mary Eugenius (8.8.1859 to 18.1.1946) in Brisbane and Eugenie as Sister Mary Alacoque (died 26.7.1948) in Rockhampton.

The Bergin family was a well-known pastoral family in early Queensland. James Delaney Bergin worked on Obi Obi and Kenilworth stations before purchasing Samford station. At the time of his death he also owned Grassmere in the Maranoa.

James Bergin was educated at Samford State School and then at St Joseph's College in Hunters Hill Sydney before beginning his studies for the priesthood at the young St Patrick's College Manly. With Michael Masterton, James was ordained to the priesthood in Sydney by Cardinal Moran on 28 October 1898. Charles Casey who was in the same year was the deacon at their ordination. Fr Casey was ordained in November of that year.(2) James was the nineteenth priest to be ordained from Manly and the second for the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Fr Bergin first ministered at St Patrick's Fortitude Valley and for a short time relieved at Goodna. In April 1900 he was appointed assistant priest to Father James Enright in Beaudesert. He remained there for nine years. He is frequently mentioned in the secular press, especially in regard to Boonah. Under Fr Enright he was responsible for the erection of a new church at Boonah in 1905. When Fr Cosgrave the parish priest of Nanango went on a visit to his native Ireland in August 1909 Fr Bergin was placed in charge of that mission. On his return Fr Cosgrove was appointed to Clifton and Fr Bergin as pastor of Nanango.(3) Boonah parishioners sent him a very warm address to which he replied in a warm manner.(4)

During his eleven years in Nanango he had accomplished an immense amount of work. He had built a beautiful convent and introduced the Sisters of Mercy to Nanango, and saw their fine school established. Besides that he built fine churches in different centres of the Nanango Parish, while at the same time he had taken an active and notable part in every movement for the elevation of the people and the prosperity of the district in which he lived.(5)

He purchased land on which he planned to build a new church. This was to replace St George's parish church that had served Nanango for many years.

His death took place in the old Nanango presbytery at 7.00am on 11 May 1914. He was only 39 years of age. Five days previously he had caught a chill. His condition deteriorated and Fr Whelan CSsR, who was conducting a mission in the parish, administered the last sacraments.

Coadjutor Archbishop Duhig accompanied by Father Bergin's brother and sister and a number of priests travelled to Nanango. On the Tuesday morning four Masses were offered in the parish church for the repose of his soul. Archbishop Duhig celebrated a solemn Requiem Mass at 10am. Following this Mass Fr Bergin's body was brought to Brisbane by train.

On Wednesday 13 May Archbishop Duhig celebrated 8.00am Mass in the cathedral. The administrator of the cathedral Fr James Byrne celebrated the solemn Requiem Mass, preceded by the solemn Office of the Dead, at 10.00am. The cathedral was crowded to overflowing.

Following the funeral liturgies at St Stephen's Fr Bergin's body was brought to Toowong cemetery. Fr Byrne conducted the burial service. Fr Bergin was laid to rest in the large family plot where his parents and many relatives are buried.

Twenty-seven years later Fr James' nephew, Father Basil James Vincent the son of James' brother Basil, was also buried in the family plot at Toowong. Like his uncle Father Basil who was the parish priest of Ekibin died suddenly in his presbytery at the young age of 54.

In those years a Month's Mind was an important part of a priest's requiem. It was difficult for many priests to attend the actual funeral which usually took place the day after death. Planning ahead most priests made the effort to be at the Month's Mind.

The Catholic Advocate reported that event in detail. At that Mass the Archbishop announced that he had appointed Fr Michael Masterton as successor to Fr Bergin. Father Michael had studied and had been ordained with Fr Bergin. On this occasion the Catholic parishioners of Nanango were appealing for funds to establish a memorial to Fr Bergin in Nanango. On the day of the Month's Mind £857 was contributed to this cause.(6) A suggestion was that a new church be built on the site purchased by Fr Bergin before his death, as a memorial to him.(7) The centenary of the opening of that beautiful church of Our Lady Help of Christians was celebrated in 2017.

Footnotes
1. Week, Brisbane, 6 Jan 1905, p. 16.
2. Age, Brisbane, 12 Nov 1898, p. 7.
3. Catholic Advocate, Brisbane, 14 May 1914, pp. 20-21.
4. Beaudesert Times, 10 Sep 1909, p. 2.
5. Catholic Advocate, op. cit.
6. RBA, inflation calculation, this equated to $100,000 in today's currency.
7. Catholic Advocate, Brisbane, 16 Jul 1914, p. 34.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.