Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba, Horizons, no. 48, November 2017, p 13:
Fr Mervyn Ziesing

On 8 September, the Toowoomba Diocesan Community came together to celebrate the life and ministry of Fr Mervyn Joesph (Merv) Ziesing. As news of Fr Ziesing's death broke, many took to the Diocese's Facebook page with memories of his wit, wisdom and motorbike with one commenter recalling a funny moment of spotting his black motorbike boots under his vestments during Mass.

Mervyn Ziesing was born in Adelaide on 30 April, 1925 to parents Carl and Wilhelmina Ziesing. He had two sisters who died young and two brothers who predeceased him. He was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph, Marist Bothers and Christian Brothers in South Australia. In 1940 he became a member of the Christian Brothers Order. As a Christian Brother, Br Ziesing was a teacher, superior, headmaster, deputy headmaster at many Christian Brother schools across New South Wales and Queensland. During this time Br Ziesing attained a Batchelor of Arts and Batchelor of Science from the Sydney University and a Batchelor of Divinity, Master of Literary Studies and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.

Fr Ziesing was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Edward Kelly MSC on 11 December, 1991 at St Patrick's Cathedral Toowoomba. During his years of priestly ministry, Fr Ziesing enjoyed time at Mitchell, Charleville, Millmerran, Taroom and Wallumbilla Parishes. He retired to Lourdes Home in 2010.

In his Words of Remembrance at Fr Ziesing's Funeral Mass, Fr Peter Doohan recalled first meeting him as a teaching Christian Brother when Fr Doohan attended St Brendan's Yeppoon as a student in the 1960's. "As a person, teaching Christian Brother and Priest, Merv commanded great respect from all who came in contact with him. When meeting him and asking him how he was going, he would always respond, dangerously well!"

Fr Doohan went on to recall tales of Fr Ziesing, drawing chuckles from those assembled. He described Fr Ziesing as academically gifted but humble, a prayerful and respectful man who was also full of life, a practical joker, gentle and loving with an insightful sense of larrikin humour.

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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 Mervyn Joseph (Merv) Ziesing, died 1 Sep 2017

Mervyn Joseph Ziesing (Merv) was born in Adelaide on 30th April 1925 to Carl Perring Ziesing and Wilhema Rebecca Ziesing. Two older sisters died shortly after birth and his brothers Francis and Ronald predeceased him. His Primary School education took place with the Sisters of St Joseph at St Peter's, Adelaide and his Secondary School education in 1935 at Marist brothers Norwood and from 1936 to 1939 at the Christian Brothers School at Wakefield. In 1940 Merv entered the Juniorate of the Christian Brothers at Strathfield New South Wales and after completing studies went onto teach in many Christian Brothers Schools in New South Wales. During this time he completed Bachelor Degrees in Arts and Science. He moved to Queensland in the early 1960's. Whilst in Queensland he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Literary Studies and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland. As a Christian Brother he was a Teacher, Superior, Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster at many Christian Brothers Schools in New South Wales and Queensland.
When his teaching career came to an end this led Merv into a discerning process. He applied to Bishop Edward Kelly MSC of the Toowoomba Diocese and was accepted for the priesthood. He attended St Paul's National Seminary for late vocations for three years. Merv only withdrew as a member of the Christian Brothers order one week before he was ordained.
Fr Merv Ziesing was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Edward Kelly MSC on 11th December 1991 in St Patrick's Cathedral Toowoomba. During his years of priestly ministry he enjoyed time at Mitchell, Charleville, Millmerran, Taroom and Wallumbilla Parishes. He retired to Lourdes Home in 2010 where he saw his new place of residence as a new pastoral venture and ministered to the many aged and infirm, bringing them hope and consolation and joy.. In his eulogy Fr Peter Doohan described Fr Merv as academically gifted but humble, a prayerful and respectful man who was full of life, a practical joker, gentle and loving with an insightful sense of larrikin humour. Fr Merv had a critical love of the Church, a great love of the Scriptures, and studied and researched them constantly. He was always seeking new insights and the deeper truth about Jesus and his teachings. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Patrick's Cathedral on 8th September, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a woman he held lovingly in his heart. Fr Merv is buried at the Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance.

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.