Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, p 112:

Cummins, John Michael, Irish
First Pastor of Gatton, Brisbane Archdiocese
John Michael hailed from Bagnalstown, Kildare Diocese, County Carlow where he was born in June 1849. He was educated at Mount Melleray and All Hallows, Dublin, where he was ordained for Brisbane on 24 June 1880. A.H. records give the name of his parents as John and Mary Bolger. Queensland researcher for the A to Z list supplies the following information:

"His name first appears in the baptism register at St. Stephen's Cathedral on 25 January 1881 and then occurs at regular intervals until 25 September 1882 when it ceases. The next information we have is that he did a baptism at Toowoomba (St. Patrick's) on 3 April 1881. From 7 July 1883 until 20 June 1886 his name appears consistently. There are two later entries on 12 March and 22 July 1887. He was then at Gatton and his first baptismal entry there was 22 August 1886 and the last 10 July 1887. Fr. Cummins died on 3 October 1887 and was buried at Nudgee ... The enclosed cutting from the 'Australian' says that he built St. Patrick's Church at Fortitude Valley ..."

Another entry on the file at Torquay states that he built the Presbytery at Gatton. As well he joined the protesters in September 1881 voicing disapproval of the appointment of Dr. John Cani as Diocesan administrator. Shipping records show that he arrived in Melbourne on his way to Brisbane in November 1880 on board the 'Cotopaxi'. Brisbane records give his age as 34. More likely he was 37. The 'Australian' in describing his obsequies sounds a note of pathos: "Many an eye was full of tears as slowly the grave closed over the mortal remains of a good, faithful, and beloved priest..." We add our own lament: one more victim of the killer of the last century, tuberculosis.
(Footprints, Vol. 3, No. 4)

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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 John Michael Cummins, died 3 Oct 1887

John Michael hailed from Bagnalstown, Kildare Diocese, Co.Carlow, where he was born in June 1849 to John and Mary (Bolger). He was educated at Mount Melleray and All Hallows, Dublin, where he was ordained for Brisbane on 24th June 1880. Shipping records show that he arrived in Melbourne en route to Brisbane in 1880 on board the 'Cotopaxi'. His name first appears in the Baptismal register at St Stephen's Cathedral on 25th January 1881. He then appears at St Patrick's Toowoomba in 1881 and consistently in the registers from 7th July 1883 until 20th June 1886. He then went to Gatton, and the last record before he died is dated 10th July 1887. He is buried in Nudgee, and is listed as having died aged 34. A reference from the Australian quotes that he built the St Patrick's Church at Fortitude Valley and the presbytery at Gatton. He was yet another victim of T.B.
(Ref. Linane C200)

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 33-34:
Fr John Michael Cummins

I was appointed the fourth parish priest of Gatton in 1979. In 1886 Father John Michael Cummins was appointed the first priest-in-charge of the Gatton Mission.

John Michael Cummins was born on the 20 June 1849 at Bagenalstown in Co Carlow, to John and Mary (nee Bolger) Cummins. Following the Irish Free State obtaining independence, this small town on the River Barrow was referred to as Muine Bheag, meaning 'small thicket'.

John Michael began his journey to the priesthood at the famous Cistercian monastery of Mt Melleray. It was reported that his education at Mt Melleray was strikingly seen in his life, as he possessed the solidity of a monk and the activity of a priest.(1) He then moved to All Hallows Missionary College where he was ordained on 24 June, 1880 by its former president Bishop Bart Woodlock.

Fr Cummins arrived in Melbourne aboard the Cotopaxi in November 1880; arriving in Brisbane aboard the coastal steamer Elamang on 7 November. He officiated at a baptism in St Stephen's on 25 January 1881, just eight months before the death of Bishop O'Quinn.

He was assigned to assist Fr John Ahern in Fortitude Valley. Fr Ahern died on 1 February 1881, Fr Cummins had to assume the role of overseeing the completion of the historic St Patrick's church. He also built the first presbytery in the Valley.(2) Fr Denis O'Keeffe, reflecting on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the laying of the foundation stone, records that Rev Father J M Cummins was the first priest-in-charge of St Patrick's.(3)

When Fr Cummins became ill Bishop Dunne moved him to the mountains on the recommendation of Dr O'Doherty. This was against Fr Cummins's wishes.(4)

His name appears in the baptismal records in Toowoomba from 7 July 1883, until July 1886. Bishop Dunne in a letter says that Father Cummins got very robust in the climate of the mountains, but he kept worrying him for a mission for himself.(5)

On the 28 July, 1886, the archbishop appointed Father Cummins as the first priest-in-charge of the newly established Gatton Mission.(6)

Father Cummins had some familiarity with the area. Toowoomba priests visited Murphy's Creek once a month and from time to time celebrated Mass for the Sisters of Mercy in Helidon. They would have also attended sick calls in the area. Archbishop Dunne wrote to the sisters in Helidon on 17 July reassuring them that the priest would be expected to give them special care. On 13 August he wrote to Fr Cummins: of course I expect the Helidon RC School to continue and be efficiently worked.

Father Cummins arrived in Gatton early in August.(7) The Ipswich press advertised that he would celebrate Mass there on 7 August and again Mass at Gatton tomorrow (Sunday) 22nd August; a collection will be made for a new priest's residence. On 22 August Fr Cummins registered his first baptism in Gatton, that of Joseph William Olsen.(8)

Apparently Father Cummins met some difficulty in the Gatton Mission for the Bishop encouraged him in a letter on the 4 August: Don't lose your temper, don't injure your health by fretting or worrying, don't go outside the regulations, or tangle yourself in anything'.(9)

The Queensland Times carried numerous notices where Fr Cummins appealed for funds to build a residence for the priest in Gatton. He constructed the first presbytery in which he lived for only a few months. His successor, Fr Daniel Walsh, lived there for 52 years.

Apparently he was a large man. In a letter to All Hallows Archbishop Dunne wrote: He seems to have a constitutionally bad chest, tho' a large man; and in another letter to Cummins: I am sending some vestments which, because they were large, they will suit you.

Fr Cummins health deteriorated. He celebrated two baptisms at Laidley on 10 July 1887. The following Sunday Fr Walsh was in the parish performing baptisms at Helidon. Fr Cummins had spent just over eleven months in charge of the Gatton mission. He moved to Toowoomba where he celebrated a baptism on 22 July 1887.(10)

By early August he was in Brisbane being cared for by Patrick and Margaret Crowe in their home at 82 Villiers Street, New Farm.(11) Archbishop Dunne wrote to Fr Cummins on 8 August: Glad to learn that you are daily improving.(12) On the same day he wrote to Father Davadi in Stanthorpe: Cummins is but poorly; say an occasional prayer for him that, if it be God's will, he may be spared for us.(13) On the 13 September, the bishop wrote to the President of All Hallows in Dublin saying: Father Cummins, who arrived here from your College towards the close of 1880, is dying.(14) On 3 October, he wrote to Father J O'Reilly: I was almost constantly with Father Cummins. He passed away peacefully between twelve and one this morning.(15) To Father Matthew Horan in Gympie: He had Mass in his room for the last ten days.

In one of his letters the archbishop observed:

People with bad lungs flush up a little in Australia, especially Queensland, for the first two or three years and then quickly die. Many younger Sisters of Mercy have passed away thus: many more are awaiting an early passage.

The Brisbane Courier carried a lengthy report of the funeral. His body was taken first to St Patrick's and in the evening to the Cathedral. The Archbishop presided at the office of the dead with 15 priests in attendance. Fr Cummins was buried in Nudgee cemetery. It was some years before a headstone was erected over his grave. He was only 34 years of age.

I covered Fr Cummins' life and ministry in a story of the Gatton parish for its centenary of Gatton parish in 1986, in a book, In the Vineyard, 100 years of Catholic Life in the Lockyer Valley 1886-1986, pages 21 to 27.

Footnotes
1. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 29 Oct 1887, p. 17.
2. Fr Patrick J Tynan, The Apostle of Brisbane – Joseph Canali, 1992, p. 97.
3. Catholic Press, Sydney, 18 Sep 1930, p. 17. Col. 1.
4. BAA, Bishop Dunne's letter books.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Queensland Times, 24 Jul 1886, p. 2.
8. Parish of Gatton, Baptismal Record.
9. BAA, Bishop Dunne's Letter Books.
10. Gatton Parish, Baptismal records.
11. Electoral and Post Office records, 1884 to 1915.
12. BAA, Bishop Dunne's letter books, 8 Aug 1887.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid. 13 Sep 1887.
15. Ibid. 3 Oct 1887.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.