Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, p 148:
Joseph Troy

Another Darling Downs recruit to the priesthood was Joseph Vincent Troy, educated at St Mary's Christian Brothers College in Toowoomba. After preparation at Springwood and Manly, he was ordained in Sydney in 1920.

He was not long as curate in Charleville when he was made Parish Priest, and as such made a great impression on Archbishop Duhig who visited the area in 1924. Joe drove him 45 miles out to Augathella to meet the parishioners who were anxious to establish a school and have the nuns there. As soon as the Archbishop arrived back in Brisbane, he arranged for the old Ursuline Convent at Dutton Park to be dismantled and despatched to the far West.

Over the years Joe had a number of country and city appointments: Roma, Hendra, Kingaroy, Bulimba, Cannon Hill, Dutton Park, Bardon and Gatton.

In spite of his robust appearance, Joe developed diabetes and, it was said, 'was a bit fond of the whisky'. In 1957-58 he was at Dutton Park. Fr Barney O'Shea takes up the story: 'For a couple of years I had as assistant Joe Troy, a man older than myself. He never failed to see humour in relations with the faithful and busied himself with visitations in the Fairfield area. His best yarn was of earlier days in the bush. After late Sunday Mass he was regaled with dinner in a local home, Irish husband and wife, both old. After a generous helping, Joe was invited to, 'Have some more, Father.' 'No thanks, that was splendid' . But as Joe declined, the husband took over, 'Eat up, Father. We have no pig now.'

When he was at Gatton in 1960 or so, Fr Troy asked to join the Toowoomba Diocese. He died in St Vincent's Hospital in Toowoomba on 25th June 1967 and was buried there. His mother was a Cronin and that explains why he had many relations around the Darling Downs and many of them in religion. Archbishop O'Donnell recalled Fr Troy's strong and childlike faith.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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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 Joseph Vincent Troy, died 25 June 1967

Joseph Vincent Troy was born in Toowoomba in 1897. His family came from the Wellcamp area where there is now a Troy's Road. He had two brothers and two sisters, one sister became a nun. He attended St Mary's CBC Toowoomba. Seminary studies were undertaken at St Columba's and St Patrick's, and he was ordained in St Patrick's Church, Toowoomba, on 8th December, 1920. He subsequently served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Charleville (1926-28); Roma (1928-29); Hendra (1930-31); Kingaroy (1932-38); Assistant Priest in various Parishes, the last of which was Gatton (?-1967). In 1938, he manifested symptoms of diabetes, and was obliged to resign his Parish. (Medicine had not discovered a suitable treatment at the time). He died in St Vincent's Hospital, Toowoomba. He was a great mixer with people, had a glowing personality and was very acceptable and popular. He is buried in the Drayton Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives, Wiemers and Fr B. Kane)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.