Rev James Rawlings
Title:
Rev
First Name:
James
Middle Names:
Benedict
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Rawlings
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Coorparoo, Brisbane QLD
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane QLD
Country of Ordination:
Australia
Ordination Diocese:
Brisbane
Seminary:
St Columba's College, Springwood, Australia
St Patrick's College, Manly, Australia
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Kingaroy QLD
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Nudgee, Brisbane QLD
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Maryborough | Curate | 1924 | 1927 | Priests of 1928 | ||||
| Brisbane | Kingaroy | Parish Priest | 1928 | Jun | 1932 | Priests of 1928 |
Biographical Notes
Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, p 225:
James Rawlings
Only eight years after ordination, Fr Rawlings died.
Coorparoo in Brisbane was the birthplace in 1894 of James Benedict Rawlings. He went to school at Gregory Terrace and wanted to enter the Seminary when he finished there but felt he owed his family a little help first. In 1915, at the age of 21 he did go to Springwood, then Manly. He was ordained by Archbishop Duhig in St Stephen's Cathedral in 1923.
For 4 years, from 1924-1927, Fr Rawlings assisted Dean Pat Brady at Maryborough. Placing great trust in the young priest 'with maturity beyond his years' he was appointed first resident Parish Priest of Kingaroy in 1928. His first concern was to establish a school and a convent, while he himself lived in the sacristy of the little church.
While he struggled on, his health was in decline. Ultimately, he was forced to enter the Mater Hospital for several lengthy spells. He had not long gone back to Kingaroy after treatment when he suddenly died on 18th June 1932.
At the Requiem Mass at St Stephen's, Archbishop Duhig took as his text, 'Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time,' and added, 'His life was so marked with zeal for the honour and glory of God, so full of love for souls, that in those few short years, he performed the work of many years. His brief life as a priest was so exemplary. His death has removed from the ranks of the clergy of the Archdiocese one of their most zealous and beloved members ...'
Fr Rawlings was buried at Nudgee at the age of 37 years.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)