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 Lex Herzig, died 13 Apr 2004

Lex Herzig was born at the small farm "Temora" near Yarranlea in the Pittsworth district on 21st April, 1915; the fourth of six children to Albert Wilhelm and Sarah Annie (nee Walsh) Herzig. His siblings Alex, Greta, Mary, Reg and Agnes have all predeceased Fr Lex.
Lex's father selected a block of land at Scrubby Mountain near Pittsworth around 1900. This country was covered by prickly pear. The family moved from Berriwillock in Victoria to Scrubby Mountain in 1906.
His early schooling took place at Yarranlea State School to which he would ride on horseback after having helped milk the cows and cart the milk to the Scrubby Mountain Factory with a horse and dray. He completed school at fourteen and went to work for Archie Houston, a near neighbour. He then worked at Scrubby Mountain cheese factory under foreman Carl Schultz, making cheese.
The Herzig family were people of great faith. The family prayed the Rosary every night and travelled to Pittsworth regularly for Mass. This influenced Fr. Lex's vocation.
At the beginning of 1932, Lex went to Ashgrove in Brisbane to Fr Cain's Seminary to study for the priesthood for work in the Phillipines. After five months he left and returned home. He went to Fr Roger Burke in Pittsworth to study Latin. In 1934 he went to St Columba's College, Springwood and St Patrick's Seminary, Manly. Bishop Basil Roper ordained Fr Lex to the Priesthood, along with classmate Fr Bill Hall in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, on 27th July, 1941. Lex's father was an Altar Server at his Ordination. The first wedding at which he officiated was that of his younger brother, Reg to Mary Connolly in March 1942.
Fr Lex's first appointment was to Holy Name Parish (1941 - 1942), followed by appointments to Dalby (1942 - 1943); Charleville (1943 - 1944); Goondiwindi (1944 - 1947) and Chinchilla (1947 - 1949). He was the first Parish Priest of Tara (1949 - 1979), and whilst there built churches at Meandarra in 1953 and Flinton in 1955. He also extended the Church in Tara and renovated the Presbytery. Fr built a convent and school in Tara in the late fifties and waited until 1965 for a religious congregation, the Sisters of St Joseph to take up residence in the convent. Much of this building was due to the industry, energy and zeal of Fr Lex. He was also responsible for the removal of the Drillham Church to Moonie in 1975. Fr Lex was a great worker and was not afraid of doing the hard work himself. He thought nothing of doing all the painting of buildings, repairs to schools and ground care in the parish. On his visits to many of the outback areas, he would stay for days at a time, trailer behind the car loaded with painting trestles, tools and lawnmower.
He often spoke of the many times he would get bogged travelling on bush tracks. He would walk to the nearest farm house and stay there sometimes for weeks at a time until the ground dried out. His parishioners didn't know his whereabouts on these occasions.
Fr Lex dedicated his whole life to Christ. Administering the sacraments and the spiritual welfare of his parishioners were his main concerns. He was always available to provide constant care, advice and comfort for everybody. He was respected by all in the community regardless of their denomination. On two occasions in Tara, when he went to pick up his car after it had been serviced, he was presented with a new car which was bought for him by the local community.
His last appointment was to the Parish of Cambooya/Greenmount (1979 - 1989). Due to age and ill-health, Father Lex retired to Toowoomba where he lived in the family home in Hume Street. He relieved in various parishes until he moved to Vianney Village at Lourdes Home in 1994. In his retirement he spent a lot of time working on his family history and restoring family graves.
Fr Lex, the most senior priest of the Toowoomba Diocese died peacefully at Lourdes home on 13th April. After a Funeral Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral he was buried in the family grave at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery on 16th April. Bishop William Morris was the main concelebrant assisted by Archbishop Bathersby and 26 priests.
A gentle, quiet man of deep faith, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.
(Ref Dioc. Archives)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.