Moreton Bay, Qld; Adelaide

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Notes on the Early History of the Church in South Australia—1836 to 1859, Southern Cross Adelaide, 18 August 1944, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167782321:

Notes on the Early History of the Church in South Australia—1836 to 1859

Mount Barker is another historic parish, the main portion of whose his- tory lies outside the period we have under review. In 1848 Bishop Murphy sent Fr. James Watkins to Mount Barker as its first resident Priest, with Fr. Luigi Pesciaroli, C.P., as his assistant. [...] Fr. Watkins had done fine work in the city during Dr. Murphy's visit to Rome (1846-47) and had also worked in New South Wales and Tasmania, where he had been Vicar-General until he was replaced by Fr. Therry. Fr. Watkins left South Australia in 1849 together with Fr. Pesciaroli, C.P., who found the English language beyond him and so returned to the sweet vowel sounds of Italy.

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Mount Barker Parish. First Resident Priest, Southern Cross, Adelaide, 6 May 1949, p 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167724673:

By February 14, 1848, the Mount Barker church fund totalled £40, and on February 16 Fr. James Watkins left Adelaide to take charge of the Mount Barker mission, as its first resident Priest. Dr. Murphy tells us that Fr. Watkins was to receive the munificent sum of £50 per annum, "until such time as Government aid is rendered." Then in order to satisfy Government requirements (for the reception of aid), Dr. Murphy lists "St. Francis de Sales, Mount Barker," among the existing and projected Catholic churches in South Australia in 1848. This was on March 12, and on the 30th of the same month Dr. Murphy tells us that he has applied to the Government for £75, clergyman's stipend; for £150 towards the erection of Mount Barker church; and for £25 towards the school-teacher's salary.

On April 1, 1848, Dr. Murphy sent Fr. Luigi Pesciaroli, C.P., to assist Fr. Watkins in whatever way he could. Mgr. Byrne says that the Mount Barker people erected a "long slab-hut, which was divided into two compartments, of which one was set apart for an oratory and church on Sundays, and the other sub-divided into bedrooms, and another used for general purposes." This is very probably true, because although the Murphy Journal makes no mention of this quaint structure there is an entry which shows that Bishop Murphy provided the furniture for whatever habitat these two Fathers occupied at Mount Barker. Mgr. Byrne says that Fr. Watkins sailed for the Cape of Good Hope on October 5, 1849. As a matter of fact, according to the Murphy Journal, Fr. Michael O'Brien had taken charge of the Mount Barker mission on June 13, 1849. The intervening months between his leaving Mount Barker and his departure for Africa must have been spent by Fr. Watkins either at Adelaide or Sydney. With Fr. Watkins went also Fr. Pesciaroli; Fr. Watkins eventually returned to his native Wales and Fr. Pesciaroli to his native Italy. Both Priests had done excellent work before and after their South Australian adventure during which they had trodden the hard way of the cross.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 104:
Fr Luigi Pesciaroli CP

Fr Pesciaroli was born in Canepina, Italy, in 1806. After ordination he joined the Congregation of the Passion of Our Lord in 1840. By temperament he is said to have had a natural love of study and retirement from the world.(1) Fr Pesciaroli was the only one of the four missionaries to Stradbroke Island who returned to his native Italy.(2)

Fr Denis Martin, quoting Cardinal Moran, reminds us:

'But despite the missioners' efforts and the Archbishop's enthusiasm and concern, the venture (on Stradbroke Island) was a failure.'(3)

When Father Vaccari, as Prefect Apostolic of the mission, received the direction from their Father General that they were to move from Moreton Bay to Perth in the west, Fathers Snell, Pesciaroli and Lencioni left Dunwich, as soon as they could in June of 1846, because they had become despondent. This left their superior, Fr Vaccari, alone on the mission, as his own wish.(4)

When Bishop Murphy returned from the Continent to Adelaide in July 1847, he found Fathers Snell, Pesciaroli and Lencioni in his diocese. In April 1848 Fr Pesciaroli went to Mount Barker as assistant, 'where he lived with a generous Catholic family. His English was so limited that he never preached and he grew despondent. After a short time there, the Catholics realizing his plight and knowing his deep desire to return to Rome collected sufficient money to pay his fare. He sailed from Port Adelaide on board the brig 'Syme' on 12 March 1849. He arrived in England in August and duly made his way to Italy.'(5)

When he arrived in London, Fr Pesciaroli wrote to the Father General of his Order:

Although my head has been affected by the vexations of the last seven years and although my health is much impaired, I shall devote myself quietly to study of the English language. I suffer often from palpitation of the heart and from attacks of nerves. I have become old and grey. However I shall do what I can. Pray God that He will enable me to do something in His service during the short time that remains to me.(6)

Fr Luigi Pesciaroli died at Corneto in Italy, on 1 September 1874, aged 68 years.

For further research:

• The third edition of The Foundation of the Catholic Church in Queensland by Father Denis Martin, 2018
• First Mission to the Aborigines by Fr Osmund Thorpe CP 1950.

Footnotes
1. Ibid. p. 25.
2. Ibid. p. 45.
3. Cardinal Moran, History of Catholic Church in Australasia, 1896, p. 595.
4. Denis W Martin, The Foundation of the Catholic Church in Queensland 1988 edition, p.37 and 40.58
5. Ibid. pp, 40 and 42.
6. First Mission to the Australian Aborigines, Osmund Thorpe CP, 1950, pp. 166 and 167.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.