Religious, Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 19 July 1866, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123332335:

The Rev. Father Hodebourg, says the D. D. Gazette, who has laboured so well and so long for Toowoomba, has been called to Roma by Bishop Quinn. He had the happiness before his departure of seeing St. Patrick's Chapel, long under his care, enlarged, and his flock increased. He was not merely popular among all classes of his congregation, but highly esteemed by a large circle of friends among every denomination in the extensive district over which he so ably and faithfully presided.

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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 Fulgentius Hodebourg, Unknown date of death

Father Fulgentius Hodebourg was said to have been an Augustinian of the Assumption Priest, from Nimes, in France. He came to Queensland with Bishop Quinn in May 1861 along with four other Italian and French priests including Dr Cani, Frs Renehan, Tissot and Cusse. At this time Bishop O'Quinn paid his first official visit to inland Queensland. From Maryborough, accompanied by Frs Hodeborg (sic) and Tissot, he rode on horseback through the Burnett and western Condamine districts, returning to Brisbane through Dalby, Toowoomba and Ipswich. In 1862 he went to Ipswich to assist Fr McGinty. Three months later he was appointed as the first resident priest in the Downs area, 26th September, 1862. His first Mass was said in the newly opened Town Hall at the corner of Neil and James Streets (opposite the present site of the Cathedral). Father Hodebourg was joined, in 1863, by Father William Larkin, who was resident at Drayton. Fr Hodebourg rode throughout the Downs visiting the shepherds in their huts or the people in growing townships. Honorah Frawley, from Drayton, recalled her Pilton relatives (O'Shea's) recording visits by Fr Hodebourg during the 1860s. In 1864 he is listed in Condamine, but returns to the Toowoomba listing the following year. He was moved from Toowoomba to Roma in July 1866, and remained there, on Mission, until 1869. He left Queensland for Rome with Bishop Quinn who was attending the Vatican I Conference. Further details on his life are, so far, unavailable. It is possible that he returned to France. (N.B. After contacting the Augustinians of the Assumption, and the Augustinians, I found that Father Hodebourg was not a member of either Congregation, which has proved a bit of a mystery). For interest, the Hodebourg name is of Germanic origin, Aldeburg (ald=old + burg=fortress). One finds this name predominantly around in Picardie and Normandie.
(Ref. Pugh's, Linane H107 and Archives)

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 75-77:
Fr Fulgentius Hodeburg OSA

Fr Fulgentius Hodeburg arrived in Brisbane on the steamer Telegraph on 19 April 1861.(1) He was a member of Bishop Quinn's party which had arrived in Melbourne, aboard the Donald Mackay on 12 March 1861. A case of small pox on board had detained them in Victoria.(2) Fathers Hodeburg, Renehan and Tissot came on ahead of the main party to prepare for the bishop's Brisbane arrival in May.(3)

Fr Fulgentius Hodeburg was mentioned in an Australian Catholic newspaper, the Freeman's Journal, before he came to Australia. He had a letter published in the in Dublin press, condemning another letter that he and his fellow correspondents considered erroneous, even defamatory. His address was Harcourt Street in Dublin; probably at St Laurence O'Toole Seminary 16-17 Harcourt Street, Dublin.(4) Bishop Quinn, who founded that college, invited him to join the Brisbane Mission. How did this French priest come to be in Dublin?

Soon after their arrival, it was reported:

Bishop Quinn, accompanied by Fathers Tissot, Renehan and Hodeburg, conducted a diocesan visitation, traversing the Burnett and Condamine districts, over a thousand miles.(5)

We know that Fr Hodeburg was in Ipswich in June 1862. He celebrated the Sunday midday Mass when Bishop Quinn visited the parish. Was he an assistant priest to Father McGinty at the time? Fr McGinty had refused to hand over to the bishop monies contributed for future parish development. Following the Mass the bishop met with parishioners to address their objection to his dismissal of McGinty and taking monies collected In Ipswich. After strong discussion the Bishop stood firm on his decision.

In 1938 Archbishop Duhig speaking at the installation of Bishop Basil Roper as second bishop of Toowoomba, mentioned that Fr Hodeburg was the first resident priest in that city.(6) Fr Hodeburg celebrated his first Mass in Toowoomba in the newly-opened town hall on 26 September 1862. The Toowoomba mission included the Condamine area, Dalby and beyond.

Fr Hodeburg built the first Catholic Church in Toowoomba on the corner of James and Neil Street. It was a wooden structure, unpretentious, inadequate but conveniently placed. The builder was Mr James Mahoney an Irish migrant carpenter who arrived in the colony in 1863.(7) The building was the church for the Toowoomba's catholic community while Robert Dunne was parish priest from 1868 to 1880.(8) Extended by 35 feet in 1880, it was burnt down early on the morning of 12 June that year.<9>

By 1864, Fr Hodeburg had become very active in the Catholic community. Fr William Larkin arrived as his assistant priest. In February a St Patrick's Day Public Dinner had been arranged:

All parties willing to be at the celebration will please communicate with the Rev Messrs Larkin or Hodeburg, or Thomas F Haslam, the secretary of the National Festival Committee.(10)

Toowoomba diocesan archives report:

'Father Hodeburg rode throughout the Downs visiting the shepherds in their huts or the people in growing townships. Honorah Frawley, from Drayton, recalled her Pilton relatives (O'Sheas) recording visits by Fr Hodeburg during the 1860s. In 1864 he is listed in Condamine, but returns to Toowoomba the following year'.(11)

In May of that year, Fr Hodeburg was on a committee organising a farewell to R H D White, retiring manager of the Bank of New South Wales, at the Toowoomba Queen's Hotel.(12)

In October 1865, Fr Hodeburg was a member of the Toowoomba Hospital Board.(13) The board in its minutes of March 1866 appealed for funds in a busy year:

The clergymen of the district have also the power of rendering the hospital the most valuable maintenance, and as the subject is one which peculiarly comes with their vocation, we earnestly invite their cooperation. The Rev F Hodeburg has offered to deliver a sermon and make a special collection among the members of his church for the funds of the institution, and we devoutly hope the other ministers of religion in the district will follow his example.(14)

In 1864 the local newspaper reported that, with Bishops Quinn and Anglican Bishop Tufnell, Fr Hodeburg was an active participant at a meeting considering the establishment of a grammar school in Toowoomba.(15)

Fr Hodeburg, accompanied by Fr James McGahan, attended a meeting to organise trustees for the care of the Drayton and Toowoomba cemetery. Fr Hodeburg was appointed a trustee.(16) In June 1866 Fr Renehan joined Fr McGahan as a curate to Fr Hodeburg.(17)

When he visited Roma in August 1866 Fr Hodeburg, following Mass, appealed for funds to build a residence for a priest in that town, to which £40 was contributed.(18) Was he at that time considering a move from Toowoomba to Roma? In September he made a pastoral visit to St George.(19)

In January 1867 Fr Hodeburg was vice-chairman of a public committee farewelling Mr Macarthur who was leaving Toowoomba after some years there as police magistrate.(20)

But in February Fr Hodeburg resigned from the Toowoomba Hospital Board.(21) He moved to Roma as priest in charge of that mission early in 1867. In 1887 The Western Star reported that the two priests ministering to the Roma mission were still living in the little slab hut built in Roma some 21 years previously by Fr Hodeburg.(22)

It would appear that Fr Hodeburg was not comfortable with the attitudes of his curates. Fr Renehan was put in charge of the Drayton/Toowoomba mission.

While in charge of the Roma mission Fr Hodeburg considering returning to Europe, as reported in news from Surat published in the Dalby press:

The Rev Father Hodeburg paid us another visit and after spending a few days, left on route for St George. The Rev gentleman is going to Europe, and it is a source of great regret that so useful and amiable a gentleman should be leaving this important district.(23)

Early in 1868, following the rebellion of Fathers Renehan McGahan and others against Bishop Quinn and their leaving the colony, Fr Robert Dunne the Vicar-General of the diocese was appointed as priest-in-charge of the Toowoomba mission.

Fr Hodeburg was still in the colony in 1869 when he was present at the laying of the foundation stone of Fr Tissot's new church in Maryborough by Bishop Quinn on 24 July.

He preached a farewell sermon in his beloved Toowoomba in July 1869, prior to his leaving the colony with Bishop Quinn who was going to the First Vatican Council.(24)

On 9 September 1869 Bishop Quinn was given a civic farewell at the Hall of the School of Arts in Brisbane, before his departure. The Brisbane Courier reported on the farewell and the testimonial of six hundred sovereigns given to the bishop.

Following Mass that morning in his cathedral, he announced that he had left 'the government of the diocese in such a way that he believes everything would go on well. He had appointed the Very Rev Drs Dunne and Cani as Vicars-generals; and Fathers Brun of Ipswich, Murlay of Rockhampton, and Tissot of Maryborough, would be deans in their respective districts. Father Hodeburg, who accompanied him, had also been raised to the same dignity. These gentlemen were worthy of the honour thus conferred upon them, and they were well fitted to acquit themselves of the responsibilities attaching to it with zeal and fidelity.(25)

Dean Hodeburg sailed to Sydney on the 22 September 1869 aboard the Lady Bowen, in the company of Bishop Quinn and Dean Brun.(26)

The Freeman's Journal reported that Archbishop Polding, accompanied by Dean Hodeburg, Dean Lynch and the Archbishop's secretary, Fr Colletti, left Sydney, aboard the RMS Malta, on 16 October 1869.(27) Archbishop Polding as an old man had first excused himself from attending the Council on account of distance, old age and infirmity but later changed his mind. Illness however interrupted his journey and when he had reached Suez he decided to turn back no more to leave Australia.(28)

Fr Hodeburg remained in Europe after the Council. I have not been able to discover any records of his future history. Was he an Augustinian of the Assumption? There are differing answers to that question!

Footnotes
1. Denis W Martin, The Foundation of the Catholic Church in Queensland, 1988 edition, p. 150.
2. Yvonne Margaret McLay, James Quinn, 1979, p. 41.
3. Denis W Martin, op. cit. p. 152.
4. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 23 May 1860, p. 2.
5. Queenslander, Religious Life in Queensland, Roman Catholic Church in Brisbane, 7 Aug 1909, p. 17.
6. Ibid. 8 Dec 1938, p. 33.
7. Catholic Press, Sydney, 9 May 1907, p. 20.
8. Neil Byrne, Robert Dunne: Archbishop of Brisbane, p 74, quotes L J Ansell, Stones that Speak: St Patrick's Cathedral Toowoomba, p. 4.
9. Warwick Examiner, 16 Jun 1880, p. 2.
10. Northern Australian, Brisbane 15 Mar 1864, p. 1.
11. Prayer Calendar - Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts 1864-2007, p. 76.
12. Darling Downs Gazette, Toowoomba, 12 May 1865 p. 3.
13. Ibid. 18 October 1865, p. 5.
14. Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and Advertiser, 20 Mar 1866, p. 3.
15. Ibid. 20 Sep 1864, p. 4.
16. Darling Downs Gazette, Toowoomba, 19 Apr 1866, p. 2.
17. Ibid. 30 Jun 1866, p.
18. Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser, 28 August 1866, p. 3.
19. Ibid. 27 Sep 1866, p. 3.
20. Telegraph, Brisbane, 14 Jan 1867 p.
21. Darling Downs Gazette, Toowoomba, 2 Feb 1867, p. 3.
22. Western Star, Roma, 9 Jul 1887, p. 2.
23. Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser, 27 Jul 1867, p. 3.
24. Ibid. 20 Sep 1869, p. 4.
25. Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 5 Oct 1869, pp 6 and 7.
26. Queensland Times, Ipswich, 25 Sep 1869 p. 2.
27. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 16 Oct 1869, p. 10.
28. Francis O'Donoghue, The Bishop of Botany Bay, 1982, p. 160.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.

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Solving the mystery of what happened to Toowoomba's first priest, by Adrian Gibb and Patrick O'Neill, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 3 November 2022,https://catholicleader.com.au/features/solving-the-mystery-of-what-happened-to-toowoombas-first-priest/:

Among the historical mysteries encountered by new Brisbane archdiocese archivists Adrian Gibb and Patrick O'Neill were the stories of several French and Italian priests who disappeared after a brief sojourn in Queensland in the 1860s.https://catholicleader.com.au/features/solving-the-mystery-of-what-happened-to-toowoombas-first-priest/

Toowoomba's first resident priest, Fr Fulgentius Hodebourg is an example.

He was a Frenchman who came to Queensland with the first Bishop, James Quinn, in 1861. Nothing was known of his life before arriving in the diocese.

He celebrated his first Mass in Toowoomba on September 26, 1862 in the newly-opened town hall and was responsible for the first church-school, St Patrick's, the first Catholic building on the Darling Downs.

The French priest would ride throughout the Downs, visiting the shepherds in their huts or the people in growing townships.

He was a member of the Toowoomba Hospital Board and was active in setting up the grammar school and the cemetery.

From about 1866 to 1869, Fr Hodebourg was stationed at Roma, before leaving Queensland for Rome with Bishop Quinn, who was on his way to the First Vatican Council.

He never returned.

For the next 153 years the Brisbane archdiocese knew nothing more of Fr Hodebourg, making him somewhat of an enigma.

However, in April of this year, Toowoomba diocesan archivist Gabrielle Saide documented what was known of Fr Hodebourg's life in a talk to the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society.

This piqued the interest of Dr O'Neill, who wondered whether his French language skills and research experience might help pierce the veil around Fr Hodebourg.

Several hours of research in the French digital archive, Gallica, run by the National Library of France, produced only one tiny clue that turned out to be all that was necessary.

In the 1861 volume of the Lyons-based publication Annales de la propagation de la foi, a missionary chronicle, there appeared these few lines:

Departures of Missionaries
The three missionaries whose names follow left for the diocese of Brisbane (Australia) on December 5, 1860, from Liverpool:
His Lordship Quinn, Bishop of Brisbane;
Reverends Hodebourg (Diocese of Séez); and Cani (Italian)

The Diocese of Séez is a small diocese in Normandy.

The archivist there was quickly able to provide an obituary of Fr Hodebourg, from the diocesan newspaper, La semaine catholique, as well as a letter from Fr Hodebourg published in 1869, where his own voice and experience at last becomes audible:

Extract from a letter by Rev Fr Hodebourg to Rev Fr Chemin, parish priest of Verrière:
Toowoomba (Australia), June 10, 1869
My dear Reverend Father,
After a silence of two years, I do not know how to begin my letter. To tell the truth, there are so few opportunities to speak French, in this country of Australia, that I have almost forgotten the art of writing French properly.
As you can see, I am not dead. Moreover, I intend to leave for France in one month.
Shall I speak to you of my life since my last letter? It has been the life of a traveller. Ceaselessly occupied in visiting Catholic families spread out over a huge area, I have rarely slept in the same bed. Better than any other, I must know that the life of man here below is a pilgrimage.
Please accept, my dear reverend sir, the best and most respectful greetings from your most affectionate pupil.
F. Hodebourg

Fr Hodebourg's obituary, and research in the online French registers of births deaths and marriages, enabled the archivists to round out his story.

He was born Fulgence-Adrien Hodebourg on May 1, 1827 [at Ceton, Normandy], where his father was a shopkeeper.

Fulgence was the first pupil at a presbytery school run by the Fr Chemin to whom the letter quoted above was written.

Fulgence entered the minor seminary at Sées, and then the Major Seminary, where he was ordained priest on June 14, 1851.

After two years as assistant priest in the Normandy town of Flers, he became a diocesan missionary, preaching missions throughout his diocese for the next seven years before becoming a volunteer for the Irish missions in Australia.

After leaving Australia he returned to his homeland and was parish priest in Origny-le-Butin and Boissy-Maugis, before finally settling in the parish of Igé, where he spent the last 23 years of his life.

Fr Hodebourg died at Igé on April 5, 1900, aged 73, after 49 years of priestly life.

Adrian Gibb and Patrick O'Neill commenced as Archdiocesan Archivists in February and March 2022 respectively.