Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 149-150:
Francis Masterson

James Masterson was a builder who, with his wife Mary Ellen (nee Dolan) reared seven children in a little cottage in Berry St, Spring Hill. When work on building St Stephen's Cathedral was to be resumed in 1870, it was to James Masterson that Fr Cani turned.

Bishop Quinn was in Rome attending the First Vatican Council. When he returned, he was surprised and pleased to see the progress that had been made. By 1874 the nave was blessed and opened. Mr Masterson received little or no payment for the work. Not so long ago, a great grandson, Fr Pat Dowd, gave to the Archives a couple of the antique tools which Mr Masterson had used in the work on St Stephen's.

Two of James Masterson's son became priests - Frs Mick and Frank Masterson.

Francis Henry born here in 1879, was dux at Gregory Terrace before he left for studies at All Hallows in Ireland where he was ordained in 1907.

Between 1908 and 1920, he served in Roma and Blackall. Then he went - rather than was sent - to assist Fr Mick who was in bad health at Nanango where he remained for six years. At this point something happened. Barney O'Shea simply says, 'He did not enjoy the favour of his bishop.' It was said by others that he strongly opposed Archbishop Duhig's plans to build the Holy Name Cathedral and eventually downgrade or even demolish St Stephen's Cathedral 'which his father had built'.

However, in 1929 he went as Parish Priest to Red Hill where he spent the rest of his life. He was very interested in apologetics and converts and his library contained volumes on Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Mercier's Malines Discussions, Dr Rumble's Replies, etc.

He personally had many local conversions to his credit and, as Fr O'Shea continues, 'Annually he took over the preparation of the first Communicants. Day by day he trudged over to the classroom to catechise the little ones. He battled on. A hard worker.'

One of his curates described the presbytery as 'a house of hunger. It was difficult even to find a biscuit or something before going to bed at night.' In later years, Frank had an old Humber car which, on one occasion, was lent to a priest to take a few Communions around the parish. It turned into a nightmare as the poor old Humber's brakes were totally ineffective on the very steep hills of the area.

Frank Masterson died in the Holy Spirit Hospital after a long illness on 31st August 1964. His funeral left 'his father's Cathedral' for Nudgee Cemetery.

(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 Francis Henry Masterson, died 31 Aug 1964

Francis Henry Masterson was born in Brisbane on 31st August, 1879, the son of James Masterson and Mary Ellen Dolan. His brother, Michael, also became a Priest of the Brisbane Archdiocese. He was educated at Gregory Terrace before being sent to All Hallows, Dublin, to undertake his seminary studies. He was ordained priest there for the Brisbane Archdiocese, on 24th June, 1907. Returning to Queensland, he served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Roma (1907-1911); Parish Priest, Blackall (1911-1921); Nanango (where he succeeded his brother, Michael. 1921-26) and Red Hill (1926-1964). He died in the Holy Spirit Hospital, Brisbane in 1964 after a five year illness. He was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.