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

Teacher and pastor; born Pakenham, Victoria, 26 December 1876; died Melbourne, 27 August 1969, aged 92.

John Bourke came from a very large family, and had innumerable relatives all over Australia. He was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and, after spending a year on his father's farm, he entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, NSW, 10 October 1896, and was a junior at the same place, 1898-1901.

He spent seven years teaching and being prefect of discipline and junior librarian, as well as junior debating prefect, and working with boarders and rowing at various times at St Ignatius' College, Riverview. Philosophy studies followed at Stonyhurst, England, 1907-09, and theology at Milltown Park, 1909-11, and Posilipo, Naples, 1911-12. He was ordained at Milltown Park, 28 July 1912. Tertianship immediately followed at Tullamore, 1912-13.

Bourke returned to Australia, teaching first at St Patrick's College, 1913-16, and then at Xavier College, Kew, 1916-21. He returned to St Patrick's College, as rector from 1921-31, the second Old Patrician to hold that office. In 1922 he issued the first school magazine, the Patrician. He also built a few new classrooms in the north wing of the college and restored the front entrance hall, adding a mosaic floor. In the 1930s he failed in an attempt to establish a preparatory school at Caulfield.

He won the hearts of the students by his good-natured humour. He taught English, religion and Latin, and especially communicated his love of the poetry of Scott, Coleridge, and Longfellow. He never neglected the Australian poets, especially Lawson and O'Brien. He also produced a play, 'The Sign of the Cross', in which most boys in the school had a part.

After St Patrick's College, Bourke was appointed to the Richmond parish, where he was socius to the vice-provincial for 15 years, kept the financial books, directed retreats and was minister and procurator of the house. He also engaged in priestly ministry in the parish. In 1934, as minister, he set up the new house of studies, Loyola College, Watsonia.

For the rest of his priestly ministry, from 1934-69, he was engaged in parish ministry, especially in the Richmond and Hawthorn parishes. However, it was mainly in the Richmond parish where he was most valued and appreciated. He was superior and parish priest of both places at various times. His last days were spent at Loyola College, Watsonia, suffering the effects of a stroke.

When almost 90 years of age, he was invited by the Berwick Shire Council, within whose jurisdiction Pakenham lies, to write a history of the Bourke family of Pakenham as a contribution towards the shire's centenary celebrations. He undertook the work with zest and thoroughness, researching, interviewing and travelling. He also wrote a similar work on his mother's side of the family.

It was facetiously said of Bourke that he suffered from 'multiple consanguinity'. The Bourkes were no inconsiderable clan, with deep family attachments. Bourke never overlooked a relationship, no matter how tenuous. Beyond these he had a vast army of friends towards whom he displayed an almost extravagant loyalty.

He was a genial, slightly quick-tempered type of man, whose work in both schools and parishes was appreciated. He received the cross pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his work in organizing the National Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne in 1934.

One of his outstanding characteristics was an astonishing gift for remembering names and faces. This came from his love of people and God's world in general. He was always warm and gracious to all who knew him. He had a spirit of optimism and was a practical man of affairs. He showed clarity of mind, singleness of purpose and a remarkable orderliness of disposition that marked his life. St Patrick's College and the parish of Richmond could not be remembered without recalling the considerable influence that John Bourke had on the people he served.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)