T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Pederzoli, Isaiah (Fr John Paul) (OSFC)

Isaiah Pederzoli (Fr John Paul) was born in Brisighella Italy on 22 June 1838. He was confirmed in 1845 by the Bishop of Imola, Mastoi Feretti, later Pius IX. Received into the Capuchin Province of Bologna at Cesena on 3 November 1855 he was professed the following year and ordained priest at Ferrara on 25 February 1861. He completed his studies at the university of Bologna, and was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity. He was sent to Lyons, France, in 1866 to await departure for England where he then worked almost continuously from 1867 to 1878. In 1879 he sailed for Armidale with Bishop Torreggiani and the first group of Capuchin friars. In 1873 he was a member of the Cork fraternity where Capuchin colleague Cherubini, who later came to Australia with him, complained about his behaviour, the Community's Visitator, Father Bruno, agreeing that he should be transferred. Transferred to Wales Pederzoli worked in the Pontypool missions before coming to Australia.
On arrival in the Armidale diocese he first went to Inverell, assisting Cherubini. Three years later he was the resident priest at Bundarra, with responsibility for Tingha and Stannifer. He built a small church, purchased a residence for the priest and bought an organ for Tingha, and was based for a time at Bingara. Transferred to the coastal part of the diocese, located at Palmer's Island, he became interested in the fate of a group of Italians residing in the region and attempting to create a 'Little Italy'. In 1886 he wrote a letter in support of a public appeal for funds to build them a church. After the creation of the Diocese of Grafton he returned inland and was transferred to Quirindi, where he remained until his death in 1901. In Quirindi he completed the construction of the town's third church, and first brick one, which was opened by Bishop Torreggiani in 1897. In Quirindi and around the diocese he was remembered as a gentle, kind, very active person. The church, presbytery, convent and school which he built at Quirindi within a few years are evidence of his popularity, zeal and hard work. He died on 25 July 1901 aged 63. He had been suffering from dropsy for some time. After consulting Sydney doctors Fiaschi and Maccarthy, and undergoing treatment at St Vincent's Hospital, he returned to Quirindi. Torreggiani, James Martin Walsh and Capuchin Brother Lawrence were with him during his last days. He was reported to be 'conscious and cheerful to the end and at peace with God and all around him'. He is buried at Quirindi.
(Source: Colbourne, Quirindi Gazette 30 Jul 1901, MDHC A-Z P16).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)