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:
Rt Rev Monsignor John Condon Bergin, died 18 Feb 1997

Born in Warwick on 20th April, 1923, John Condon Bergin was the second child and son of Patrick Canice Bergin and May Elizabeth Hennessy. John's father was a teacher so that the young John's early education was in the State Schools of Thornton and Haden. In 1935 he began at St Mary's CBC, Toowoomba, until 1941, when he went to the Seminary at Banyo. He was among the first students at the then newly established Pius XII Seminary, and one of the 19 young men from the Toowoomba Diocese to enrol in that first intake of students. Ordination followed in December 1949, by Bishop Basil Roper, at St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba. Frs Pat Campbell, Frank Leonard, Frank Burke and Ralph Underwood (the latter deceased in 1988) were his classmates. Father Bergin's first appointment as Assistant Priest was to Dalby in 1950, followed by 9 years in Oakey. Here he was assistant to the renowned scholar, Fr Leo Hayes. In his wisdom, Fr Hayes left a lot of details to his capable and practical minded young Curate. It was during that time that Fr John was responsible for the building of St Monica's Church. In 1960 he was appointed Parish Priest of Cunnamulla and here he built the present Parish school. It was in Cunnamulla that he was known as "Bergin the Builder", and was one of the most loved Parish Priests of that Parish. By 1971 he was back to his birth place as PP. In February, 1991, he retired, in Warwick. His time in Warwick was at a difficult time for the Church in the post Vatican II days, with the decline in the number of priests, changes in liturgy and worship. In 1983, Dean Bergin was elevated to the position of Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor. As a priest, he was intensely committed to Church, a shy man, he was very practical. He was a manly man who threw himself heart and soul into any project to which he was committed. He was very supportive of Parish activities, he would be right in the middle of whatever was happening; straight to the point, he didn't suffer fools gladly. He was very caring of his parishioners when they were under stress. He was most hospitable, especially to his brother priests. He was deeply spiritual, prayerful, and a priest through-and-through. He died suddenly on 18th February 1997, and was buried in Warwick. He is survived by his brothers Emmett and Pat, and a sister, Dympna, of the Carmelite Order.
(Ref. Archives and Clerical CV)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.