Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Thaddeus Hogan, died 18 Mar 1918

Thaddeus Hogan was born in Ireland to James and Catherine (O'Donnell) Hogan on 14th May 1860. He studied at All Hallows, and was ordained for Brisbane on 29th June 1865. He served in Warwick, as Parish Priest, from 1865-1867 then went to Newark N.J. with Fr McGahan in 1867. He served in Newark City and Trenton and died the Pastor and Monsignor of Sacred Heart Parish Trenton in 1918. He was noted as being one of Bishop Quinn's rebels. Father Southerwood lists his death as 18th April.
(Ref. Linane H115, Pugh's, Southerwood and 'The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891' No. 685)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 72:
Fr Thaddeus Hogan

Thaddeus Hogan was born on 14 May, 1842 the son of James and Catherine (nee O'Donnell) Hogan of Kilteely in co Limerick. Like so many of the priests coming to Brisbane, Hogan began his ecclesiastical studied at Mt Melleray and then at All Hallows Missionary College where he was ordained a priest on 29 June 1865.(1)

Fr Hogan, with three other young priests, arrived in Moreton Bay, aboard the steamship Great Victoria, on 31 December 1865.(2) He touched land in Brisbane on 3 January and was sent to Warwick as curate to John Cani.(3) Fr Hogan, a very popular figure during his time in Warwick. Some reports incorrectly refer to him as the parish priest.(4)

John McEniery, my grandfather's father, had come to Warwick in 1863 from Croom in Co Limerick some 25 miles from Kilteely, the native town of Fr Hogan. It is possible that Fr Hogan baptised the second child of John and his wife Bridget, Patrick, who was born in 1866.

Not strong in health, Fr Hogan soon commanded the respect of his peers for his enormous capacity for work. As Robert Dunne in a letter to Michael Renehan, ten years later, wrote:

Many and many a time I have told about that Saturday ride of his from Allora into Warwick, thence to Maryland, and from Maryland back to say the eight and eleven o'clock masses on Sunday morning in Warwick. It is still one of the strongest duty efforts in its way that the Queensland priests tell of.(5)

His close friendship with Renehan saw him join the rebels, who sailed from Brisbane on 12 March 1867 aboard the City of Brisbane, leaving Australia on 1 April aboard the RMS Rakaia to eventually settle in America. He went to New Jersey and was appointed an assistant at St Peter's parish in New York City, and later at Immaculate Conception Church, Camden. He went to Rome in 1871 and on returning was appointed first pastor of St Marys, Mount Holly. Then, after the death of one of his fellow rebels, he was made pastor of Harrison.

Fr Hogan drew great admiration from many, including the bishop, for his qualities. From Harrison he was appointed to Trenton, state capital of New Jersey. While he did great work, he eventually drew the ire of his bishop. Hogan was destined to end his priestly life as he had begun it, in conflict with his bishop.

As his health failed he left the work in his parish to his curates. He died on 18 March 1918 at Trenton. After Mass and funeral rites, he was buried in St John's Cemetery on Chestnut Avenue, 'having earned his place among the worthies of the city of Trenton'.

As Neil Byrne sums it up: He had succeeded in making himself useful to God, to himself and his neighbour – if at times an annoyance to this bishop.

My short story was enhanced by the extensive research of Dr Neil Byrne.

Footnotes
1. Kevin Condon, cm, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, 1986, student number 685.
2. Brisbane Courier, 5 Jan 1866, p. 2.
3. Warwick Argus and Tenterfield Chronicle, 1 Feb 1867, p. 2. "Local intelligence".
4. Fr Joseph McKey, The Light of Other Days, 1978, p. 24.
5. Neil Byrne, The Proceedings of the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, Vol VII, pp. 54 to 60.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.