Kevin Condon, CM, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, Dublin, 1986. Appendix: Matricula 1842-91:

No. 1779: Michael Potter, 1884, Bathurst College. Of James and Elizabeth Mullooly, Cluandonald and Killashee, Ardagh; b. 11.1.'57. Ord. for Brisbane, 19.6.'87. PP Warwick for nearly all his life. Died, 1.2.1944. (AHA 1948, 104 f).

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Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 28-33:
Mons. Michael Potter

Michael Potter is the oldest person in the photo, but not the most senior priest. He had an unusual introduction into the priesthood but this does not necessarily account for the unique character who was to emerge.

Born near Oliver Goldsmith's villages in Co. Longford in 1857 he too was taught by a Village Schoolmaster at the Cloontah National School and so impressed was he that he decided to become a teacher. He was a pupil-teacher when somehow he met Fr Matt Horan and decided to come out to Queensland when Fr Matt returned in 1878. Michael Potter already had two sisters here in the Mercy order, Srs Patrick and Michael.

For the next three years he continued his pupil-teacher training at St Killian's College, South Brisbane. When he was accepted to study for the priesthood, he first went to St Charles' Seminary at Bathurst, before returning to Ireland's All Hallows College in 1884. There he was ordained on 19th June in 1887 at the age of 30 and soon after returned to Brisbane.

Here we have another priest moulded by the Horan influence: he was guided to Queensland by Matt, worked with Andrew at Ipswich (1888-91), then with James at Warwick until 1905 when he succeeded as Parish Priest. He was destined to spend the remaining 52 years of his life at Warwick, first as 'little Father Potter' and from 1912 as Monsignor Potter.

Nearly every Catholic home in Warwick and the surrounding district displayed a photo of Fr Potter; every person in the district knew him and could tell a story for he was everybody's friend. He made wills for the people who were unable to write and there were many at the time. He visited the homes and was accepted as a member of every family.

Fr Potter's trips into the country could last anywhere from a few days to a week or even more when on the western trip to Millmerran. He always took an altar boy with him to do the driving. He would either call at homes or give a wave as he passed by. Even that was an event in their lives. Once as they were going along the road like Philip the Ethiopian, he was reading the office as was his custom, when the wheel of the sulky started to come off. The cap had become loose and had fallen off, which meant it would not be long before the wheel came off. The inevitable happened. Down went the sulky with Fr Potter and driver thrown on to the road. Fr Potter wasn't a bit pleased but he sorted himself out, calmed the horse and began to take stock of the position. Then he turned to the altar boy and said, 'You must have seen the wheel coming off. Why didn't you call out?' The boy sheepishly tried to find an excuse, then answered, 'I did see the wheel coming off but I didn't want to interrupt your prayers'.

On one particular occasion, he was proceeding out to Cunningham by the Saturday afternoon freight train so that he could stay overnight and say the Sunday Mass at a farm house for all the locals. When the train reached Allan he realised he had left the altar breads and wine behind. The guard had the train stopped and the driver agreed to back the train into Warwick. Such was the esteem in which the man was held. His usual mode of transport around the town itself was a bicycle. He never owned a motor car although he kept a beautiful sulky.

In his book, The Light of other Days, Fr Joe McKey records other amusing incidents. He wrote that Fr Potter kept a general rouseabout 'who was on call day and night. Kelly had to answer to the high pitched call which surely everyone in Warwick heard. On a Monday morning the call would go out and then the strangest sight would be seen heading down Palmerin St from the presbytery to the bank. Kelly would be pushing the wheelbarrow with the Sunday collection, while his boss 'clipped clopped' behind wearing his long black coat that extended well below the knees and an old hat that had many holes around the brim as he always hung it up on the gas burner when not in use.'

He returned from his 1902 visit to Ireland with a phonograph and a picture projector. These provided remarkable entertainment for he was able to show places in the 'Emerald Isle' to the sound of Irish airs and jigs. 'Such an event was never experienced before by the locals who came in from miles around.' Donations helped the Convent building fund and the sentiment engendered that great St Patrick's Day spirit for which Warwick was long noted.

He also build the CYMS hall, invited the Christian Brothers to establish the boys' school in 1912 and in 1920 had Archbishop Mannix to lay the foundation stone of the new St Mary's Church.

Dr Mannix was a hero among the Darling Downs 'Irish stock', as a result of 'the Warwick Egg' incident. The church took six years to build following a dispute over the land on which it was built and the raising of finance. It completely consumed him - everything went into it. Consequently, provisions for the presbytery 'dried up', the floor coverings wore out, chairs were without seats, the wallpaper hung in sheets and spider webs hung everywhere. His table was cluttered with accounts and correspondence except for the one little space where he worked under the burning lamp until 2am before setting off to post his letters.

Michael Potter was blessed with extraordinary health, led a simple frugal life and spent little on himself. Sunday after Sunday, he delivered homely sermons and instructions. He was proud of the fact that Warwick had the highest record for vocations to the Sisters of Mercy while vocations to the priesthood were not far behind. One of his own sisters, Sr M Michael had died young but Mother Patrick Potter was the popular Reverend Mother at All Hallows for many a year.

Archbishop Duhig's summing up of the life of this extraordinary character is masterful: 'A man of piety, simple faith and laborious life, he ministered to at least three generations here for over 50 years. I have never known any pastor more deeply interested in his people than Mons. Potter was nor any priest who followed up more constantly the movements of the members of his flock whom circumstances had removed from his immediate care to live or work in other parts of the State or beyond it. These latter he often kept in touch with by correspondence, by a Christmas card, a letter of condolence or greeting, and he never failed to visit them when opportunity offered. I have never known him to forget the name of any of his spiritual children. They were graven in his memory as the names of the family are graven in the memory of a father.

'Mons. Potter was a man of bright intellect. He was wise, discreet and tactful but had no pretence to any great learning beyond that which he needed for his priestly office. His character was moulded and his life was lived by the example of the Good Shepherd. There was not a home in the parish on the threshold of which his footfall was not a familiar sound.'

The final call came in the late hours of 1st February 1944 as he was praying his office in the presbytery chapel. Businesses closed their doors as his funeral procession passed by. He was laid to rest beside Fr James Horan under the floor of St Mary's Church.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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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:
Rt Rev Monsignor Michael Potter, died 1 Feb 1944

Born 8th January, 1857 in Cloontagh, Clonmacnoise, Ireland. Michael Potter arrived in Queensland as a student in 1878 in company with Fr Matthew Horan P.P., Fr Meagher P.P. of Singleton and five Sisters of Mercy. On arrival in Brisbane he entered upon his studies at St Kilian's College and then went to St Stanislaus' College and St Charles Seminary, Bathurst, where he passed Junior and Senior examinations. In 1881 he went back to his native land to finish his studies at All Hallows, Dublin and was ordained there in 1887. His first appointment was as Curate at Ipswich in 1887, and in 1891 he joined Warwick Parish as Curate, spending 14 years under Father James Horan. He had not long been in Warwick when the parishioners presented him with a buggy, horse and harness. In 1902 Fr Potter decided to take time off to visit Ireland once more. During his trip he was frequently in touch with parishioners. A phonograph was obtained and also a picture projector whilst he was in London, so that on his return a great entertainment was held in the CYMS Hall in which his travel pictures were shown accompanied by relevant musical items. Such an event was never experienced before by the locals who came in from every part of the parish! He became Parish Priest of Warwick in 1905. He labored in that Parish for over 52 years, 38 of those as Pastor. He had been a Domestic Prelate for 20 years. Monsignor Potter is buried in the Warwick Cemetery.
(Ref. Clerical CV)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.