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 Thomas Lee, died 3 May 1919

Born in Ireland and educated at All Hallows. Pugh's Almanac lists Fr Lee as being in Warwick in 1895 and Roma from 1897-1896. He died in Warwick during his 48th year and 23rd year of ministry. He is buried in the Warwick Cemetery.
(Ref. Linane L34 and Pugh's)

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, pp 154-155:
Fr Thomas Lee

I have many relatives buried in the Warwick general cemetery. In visiting their graves I was always impressed by the headstone directly behind the grave of Monsignor Michael Potter. It is the burial place of Fr Thomas Lee who died in Warwick on 3 May 1919 after nearly six years in that parish. My mother was a pupil at St Mary's primary school during those years.

Thomas Lee was born at Mitchelstown, co Cork in 1871. He commenced his studies for the priesthood at Mt Melleray seminary and entered All Hallows Missionary College in 1893. He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1897. Father (later Monsignor) John Francis McCarthy and Father Michael Stapleton were ordained for Brisbane on the same day.

After a few months holidaying with family and friends these three priests joined with Fr John Kevin O'Brien, who had been ordained from St Patrick's college in Thurles for the Brisbane mission. These four priests arrived in Sydney aboard the Orient Mail Steamer Oruba on Sunday 10 October 1897. They then came to Brisbane.(1)

Archbishop Dunne assigned Fr Lee to Roma as curate to Fr Peter Capra. About 1900 he was appointed curate to Fr Matthew Horan in Gympie. In May 1910 Fr Lee was appointed locum tenens in Gayndah, where he ministered for nearly two and a half years.

Fr Lee arrived as curate to Father Potter in November 1912. After six and a half years of ministry in Warwick Fr Lee died on 3 May 1919. The Warwick Daily News published a lengthy obituary on the Monday after his death. This is an extract from that article:

Practically the whole of his ministry in Warwick was carried out in the country districts, where Father Lee endeared himself to the whole of his parishioners and also was glowingly commended by those of other faiths. The deceased had a brilliant scholastic career, and gained many distinctions. Though one was at once impressed with his bonhomie and jovial good nature it was only his nearest friends who realised that in reality he was of a retiring disposition and only revealed himself to those intimate with him. With the outside world the late Father Lee was very popular because of his genial companionship, and because of his keen wit and quick repartee. He was possessed of strong personality and determination, as indicated by the fact that he carried out his sacred ministry under considerable disadvantage. For upwards of twenty years he suffered as a result of injury to his leg. He bravely hid his suffering in this respect from the world although his friends knew that he endured much. His sacred ministrations were, as a consequence, limited to a certain sphere of action, and they chiefly displayed themselves in great benevolence to the poor, and the extension of sympathy and kindness to the sick. Father Lee's personality was such that as to make him beloved by all those with whom he came in contact. He met men (sic) of every shade of belief and of opinion on one common ground, and he never failed to grip the best that was in all.(2)

The paper also reported:

The Mayor of Warwick, Ald A P Jutsum, called at the Presbytery on the Saturday morning, when he had learned that Fr Lee was seriously ill, and not only expressed the sympathy of himself for the clergy and the Catholic community, but also the townspeople whom he represented. Immediately that it became known that Fr Lee had passed away, the mayor again visited the presbytery to express his condolences on behalf of himself and Warwick citizens.(3)

On the Sunday morning Father McCarthy who was a seminary classmate of Fr Lee celebrated the 11.00am Mass where he expressed the gratitude of the clergy and Catholic community of Warwick to the mayor.

The local press published a lengthy account of the funeral.

The solemn requiem High Mass was commenced at 10 o'clock yesterday morning in the presence of an overwhelming congregation, the celebrant being Father McCarthy. The deacon and sub-deacon were the Rev Father G Murphy and the Rev Father J Hennessey. The Master of ceremonies was the Rev Father Michael Potter. The Rev Father M Stapleton and the Rev Father Francis McSweeney occupied seats in the sanctuary. ... Immediately the Mass was over the celebrant exchanged the chasuble for the cope, and proceeded to give the last absolutions.
When the latter were over, the coffin was borne by the members of the members of the HACB Society to the hearse through the church grounds, accompanied by the officiating clergy reciting the authorised prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased.
The cortege ... was exceptionally large. The funeral left the church southwards and then turned into Wood-street until Fitzroy-street was reached northerly, when another turn was made and Palmerin-street was traversed as far as Wood Street again. The direct route westward to the Warwick cemetery was then taken. …
The Rev Father Stapleton was in charge of the last sad offices at the cemetery, assisted by the priests already mentioned.
When the grave was closed the Rev Father McCarthy addressed those present as follows: 'Rev Father Potter and Catholic people of Warwick and district - We have now completed the last rites of the church for one whom we have esteemed and loved, and, before parting, I desire to cordially thank Father Potter, your Parish Priest, for his kindness to Father Stapleton and myself during the time we have been here attending our dear deceased friend. I also wish to tell the people of Warwick that in paying the tribute they have paid today to the deceased priest they have honoured themselves. Nothing more could be more consoling to us than the witness of this splendid spirit of faith. Most gratefully do I thank you all.(4)

The Daily News added a note which expressed the healthy Ecumenism in Warwick while Fr Michael Potter was parish priest.

At the 11 o'clock service in St Mark's Church on Sunday, the Rector, Rev W P Glover, said before giving his address, he wished to express, on his own behalf, and on behalf of the church people, sympathy with the Roman Catholic community of Warwick in the loss they had sustained by the death of Father Lee. Though there were differences between the two churches which prevented that measure of fellowship which they would all desire, yet on an occasion such as this, differences were forgotten for the moment, and their hearts would go out in sympathy with those of their fellow Christians who had suffered the loss of a devoted worker. Personally he intended to take an early opportunity of conveying to Father Potter the sympathy of the Church of England people in the loss that had been sustained.(5)

One of the finest memorials in the Catholic section of the Warwick General cemetery is that to Fr Lee, erected by the parishioners of Warwick, which is just behind the fine monument over the grave of Monsignor Potter.

Footnotes
1. Catholic Advocate, Brisbane, 19 Oct 1912, p. 2.
2. Warwick Daily News, 5 May 1919, p. 4. Col. 5.
3. Ibid.
4. Warwick Daily News, 6 May 1919, p. 4. Col. 5.
5. Ibid.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.