Epitome, The North Australian, Brisbane, 16 January 1864, p 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77437168:

On Sunday, 10th instant, after eleven o'clock service, in the Romanist house of worship at Ipswich, his Lordship, the Right Rev. Dr. Quinn, attended by the Rev. Mr. Brennan, the Rev. Mr. McGinty, Rev. Mr. Golden, and the Rev. Mr. Moynehan, conferred the four initiatory "Minor Orders" of the Roman priesthood, on a young gentleman named Devitt.

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Irish death record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1879/06521/4878704.pdf: "Superintendent Registrar's District Cork, Registrar's District No. 6. 1879. Deaths Registered in the District of No. 6 in the Union of Cork in the County of the City of Cork. No. 435. On 1 January 1879 at 50 Patrick St, death of Mathew Devitt, male, bachelor, age 37 years, Roman Catholic Clergyman; cause of death: (a) pleuritis of left side, about two years, (b) Pulmonary Tuberculosis about six months, Certified; informant: Thomas Rielly, present at death, of 50 Patrick St; 14 January 1879; J.P. Golding, Registrar."

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, p 140:

Devitt, Matthew Charles, Irish
One of the Disgruntled under Bishop James Quinn
The Matthew C. Devitt who appears on the list of the Brisbane priests in the early 1860s is probably identical with the Matthew Devitt, No. 1816, on the Maynooth Ordination Records (Irish Ecclesiastical Record).

He belonged to the Diocese of Killala and had matriculated for entry to Maynooth on 25 August 1857. The date of Ordination is not recorded but would probably be 1864. Matthew Charles served at Ipswich and Dalby for close on two years. Like several others, such as the worthy William Mason Walsh (later in Townsville), he became a disgruntled subject. He, with others harbouring a grudge and intent on airing it in Rome, left on the 'City of Brisbane' on 12 March 1867. Very likely he went to the U.S.A.
(Footprints, Vol. 3, No. 9)

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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 Matthew Charles Devitt, Unknown date of death

Matthew Charles Devitt was born in Ireland and studied at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. He belonged to the Diocese of Killala and had matriculated for entry to Maynooth on 25 August 1857. His date of ordination is not recorded but very likely it would have been 1864. He came to the Brisbane area in the 1860s and served in Ipswich and Dalby. Like several others, such as the worthy William Mason Walsh (later in Townsville), he became a disgruntled subject. He, with others harbouring a grudge, and intent on airing it in Rome, left on the "City of Brisbane" on 12 March 1867 after Bishop Quinn expressed dissatisfaction with his work, Father Devitt apparently left for America with three other clergy – Renehan, McGahan and Walsh. Pugh's list him as serving in Dalby in 1866-67. A public meeting was actually held in Toowoomba on December 18th, 1867, to hear explanation from Bishop Quinn as to the cause and sudden departure of of these four clerics. Fr Devitt returned to Townsville in 1878.
(Ref. Pugh's and Lin. D47)

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 67-68:
Fr Matthew Charles Devitt

Matthew C Devitt was born in Ballina in the Irish county of Mayo. He commenced his education for the priesthood at Maynooth in Ireland at the age of 16. He began to doubt his vocation and considered a career in medicine. At the age of twenty his health began to fail and he was advised to move to the warmer climate in Australia. He arrived in Melbourne in 1862, but the climate did not suit his health, so he moved to Brisbane where Bishop Quinn appointed him as headmaster in a small Catholic school beside the original wooden St Patrick's church in Wickham Street Fortitude Valley. While in this position he completed his studies for the priesthood and was the first priest ordained by Bishop Quinn in St Stephen's church on Pentecost Sunday 1863.(1)

Presentation to the Rev M C Devitt
On last Sunday evening the pupils of the Roman Catholic Grammar School assembled in the Church of St Stephen for the purpose of offering a tribute of their respect and affection to their late Director the Rev Matthew Charles Davitt (sic), recently promoted to the Priesthood. A handsome watch with appendages was the little gift which the rev gentleman was invited to accept, and in presenting it the following touching and appropriate address was read by Mr John Martin, on behalf of his fellow pupils:

To Our Dear and Highly Esteemed
Father Devitt
Beloved Father: - We the children of the Grammar School, who so highly appreciated your good qualities, both as a teacher and as religious instructor, while among us, do sincerely hope that you will accept this watch and chain as a small token of our gratitude for the great interest which you so feelingly manifested in the advancement of our education.

We remain your fond children, wishing you many years of good health and spirits in the service of God.
Signed on behalf of selves and fellow pupils
M Kean; W Harley, J O'Brien; W Keating; J Darragh

The Rev gentleman briefly acknowledged in feeling and suitable terms, the compliment that had been paid him by his cherished pupils, assuring them he would ever remember the filial attention and respect they had constantly displayed towards him while under his charge; and after kindly thanking them for their gentle gift, which he would prize as marking one of the most agreeable events of his existence he concluded by invoking on each and every one of them the peace and blessing of Heaven through life, and in a happy hereafter. The youthful assembly then retired from the Church.(2)

Fr Devitt joined Frs Michael P Renehan, W Walsh, J McGahan, and T Hogan, who backed a letter sent by Fr Thomas Keating to Archbishop Polding criticising Bishop Quinn. The letter was sent also to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda. This was a turbulent period in the young diocese's history. Devitt, while serving in the mission at Dalby, was also criticised by Quinn for not obeying the financial regulations of the diocesan Synod. He joined the other priests in leaving Brisbane eventually settling in the diocese of Albany in the USA.(3)

Devitt was in the parish of Brooklands, USA in 1873.(4)

For ten years he was pastor of the parish of Our Lady of the Lake, Cooperstown, in that Diocese. Returning to holiday in his native Ireland, apparently in poor health, he died in Cork on 1 January 1879.

He had spent time in Dalby where he was loved by many people. The local paper reported his death by publishing a copy of a report of his Month's mind, which was published in a newspaper in New York.

Report of the death of Rev Fr M C Devitt
The sad, though not unexpected, news of the death of Father Devitt, the good priest, who for more than ten years ruled so wisely and so well the parish of Cooperstown, has reached us. It is but a short time since he left us in quest of health, thinking that a visit to his native land and the scenes of his boyhood days would build up his shattered constitution; but instead of this he found only a grave. No sooner had he set foot on Irish soil than death met him, electing him as her own, and locked him in her embrace; and he now 'sleeps the sleep that knows no waking,' not in Ballina, but by the banks of the Lee, where 'Bella Shand seems to ask a 'Miserere' for him from every passer-by.

Father Devitt was born in Mayo, one of the most Catholic counties in Ireland, in the beginning of the year 1840, and breathed his last in beautiful Cork, on the 1st of January last under the shadow of St Finbar's.

A solemn Mass of Requiem for the repose of the soul of the much lamented Father Devitt was celebrated on the 6th instant, in the Church of Our Lady of the Lake, Cooperstown, of which he was pastor over ten years. The church and altar were draped in mourning – fittingly in keeping with the sad event that brought so many within its walls to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of a faithful priest, who was the father and guide of his Catholic people, and at the same time the cherished friend of those who represent the culture of classic Cooperstown, although strangers to his faith.

The attendance of his brother priests, considering the inclemency of the weather, was larger than anticipated.

The solemn Requiem Mass was commenced at half-past ten o'clock. Very Rev P A Ludden, VG, celebrant; Rev M P Renehan, deacon; and Rev J J Brennan, sub-deacon, with the Rev T M A Burke, master of ceremonies. At the end of the Mass, Father Hogan, in a very impressive manner, addressed the large congregation, who were weeping over their dead pastor as children mourn the loss of a father when death has taken him from their midst. Out of respect for the repeated wish made by Father Devitt, no panegyric was preached; but a strong appeal which reached every heart, was made for prayers for the repose of the soul of him who so often gave them solace in their sorrow and counsel in times of doubt. God had lessened the sorrow of his faithful flock, by giving them a worthy successor in the present pastor, Rev Father Hughes, who has paid such a graceful tribute to the memory of his predecessor, by bringing together for the month's mind, so many priests around the altar at which the dear deceased so often ministered, that there they might offer up Masses for the repose of his soul. Father Devitt's memory shall long remain green in Cooperstown, and will be lovingly cherished as long as life lasts by all who had ever known the gentle priest and Christian gentleman.
(Catholic Telegraph, Little Falls, New York)(5)

The well-researched story of Fr Devitt's priesthood, by Dr Neil Byrne, can be found in the Proceeding of the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society Volume Six, pages 54 to 58.

Footnotes
1. Chris Hanlon, Information on Fr Devitt.
2. North Australian, Brisbane, 17 May 1864, p. 7.
3. Yvonne Margaret McLay, op. cit. p. 166 cites Toowoomba Chronicle of 18 Dec 1867
4. Brisbane Courier, 18 Jan 1873 and 20 Jan 1873.
5. Dalby Herald, 21 Jun 1879, p. 2.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.