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 Jeremiah Healy, died 26 Jan 1915

Born in Ireland. Pugh's list Fr Healy as serving in Stanthorpe and Roma 1893-1894, and Goondiwindi 1903-1910. He died aged 49 and is buried in Nudgee cemetery.
(Ref. Linane H57 and Pugh's)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

---

Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 144:
Fr Jeremiah Healy

Jeremiah Healy was born near Newport in co Tipperary Ireland in 1866. A Jeremiah Healy, son of Jeremiah and Mary (nee O'Brien) Healy, of the townland of Kilnacappagh in Newport, was baptised in the parish church on 8 January 1866.

Father Healy was educated for the priesthood at St John's College, the seminary for the diocese of Waterford and Lismore. He was ordained with his classmates James Power and Patrick Bailey for the Archdiocese of Brisbane in July 1891.(1)

Fathers Healy, Power and Bailey travelled to Australia on RMS Ormuz arriving in Sydney and the proceeding to Brisbane on the 1500 ton coastal vessel Rodonda arriving on 26 November 1891.(2) Fr Healy's first appointment was a curate to Fr Davadi in Stanthorpe from 17 December 1891 to 1894. Then he was appointed to assist Fr James Enright in Beaudesert from 1895 to 1897. He followed this appointment as assistant to Fr Mimnagh in Bundaberg from 1898 to 1901. In 1901 he was appointed the priest-in-charge of the Goondiwindi mission. He remained there until his death in 1915.(3)

It was chiefly owing to his strong advocacy that the present fine convent at Goondiwindi was erected and the Sisters of Mercy introduced to take charge of the convent and school.(4)

In 1913, twenty two years after arriving in Brisbane Fr Healy and Fr Power travelled via America to Ireland. His parishioners and friends in Goondiwindi gave him a fine farewell and a very generous purse to finance his trip. On that occasion reference was made to his declining health. In replying Fr Healy said: it was his intention to visit Ireland, the scenes of his boyhood, and meet his aged mother who was so dear to him.(5) Father Healy had a sister in the Sisters of Mercy convent at Hawkesbury in New South Wales.

Father Healy died on 25 January 1915 six months short of his silver jubilee of ordination:

Fr Healy arrived by the 10.30 train at Sandgate on Monday night, for the purpose of paying a visit to his friend, Fr Power. He appeared to be in good health, and made no complaint of illness. After a quarter of an hour's chat with Father Power, he retired to rest, it being about 11 o'clock. On the Tuesday morning Fr Power left early to say Mass at Nudgee College. On his return he knocked on Fr Healy's door, but receiving no reply entered the room to find that Father Healy had died with his rosary in his hands. The cause of Fr Healy's death was fatty degeneration of the heart. (6)

The solemn Office of the Dead and Requiem Mass were celebrated, in the presence of Archbishop Duhig and 14 priests, in the Sacred Heart Church at Sandgate. After the Rite of Commendation, Fr Healy's funeral proceeded for burial in Nudgee Catholic cemetery.

In November 1916 a newspaper giving notice of the administration of Fr Healy's estate stated that his next of kin as: James Healy, Mary Ann Ryan, Hannah Carroll, Norah Healy, Kate Healy, John Healy, Michael Healy, and Mary Healy.(7) This information could be useful for any person desirous of finding a little more about this priest.

Footnotes
1. Age, Brisbane, 30 Jan 1915.
2. Brisbane Courier, 27 Nov 1891, p. 3.
3. Fr Chris Hanlon, Information on Fr Healy, BAA June 2003.
4. Age, op. cit.
5. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 6 Feb 1913, p. 25.
6. Age, op. cit.
7. Brisbane Courier, 25 Nov 1916, p. 16.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.