Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 214-216:
Patrick Coleman

One day in 1925, Fr Coleman stood beside his single-seater Chevrolet to have his photograph taken. It was stored away for over 60 years, but has since been released to the world in Fr Browne's published collection of photos.

Patrick Coleman was born in 1896 at Melleray in the slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains and within sight of the famous Cistercian Abbey Mt Melleray, mentioned so frequently in these notes as a junior seminary. He trained there himself before going on to All Hallows and ordination in 1921.

Fr Coleman's first appointment was as assistant at St Patrick's Church in Toowoomba for five years. While he was there a Jesuit priest, Fr Francis Browne visited and, being an acquaintance from Ireland stayed as Paddy's guest for a few days. This was when he took Fr Coleman's photograph.

Fr Browne SJ achieved some fame in several ways, one of which was that he was a passenger on the Titanic in 1912 and was destined to set out for New York, but obeyed a 'Marconi-gramme' from his superior, received at Queenstown: 'Get off that ship - Provincial'. Fr Browne, as he was leaving the ship, took the last known photographs, including one of the Captain looking down into a life-boat. These photographs are reproduced in the many books that have been published about the Titanic. Fr Browne's many other photographs have recently been published for world wide distribution by the Jesuits of Dublin.

In 1927, Paddy became Parish Priest of Pittsworth. While he was there, his brother John was consecrated Coadjutor Bishop of Armidale and succeeded in 1932.

Soon after the death of Fr O'Sullivan at Booval in 1930, Fr Coleman went there as Parish Priest until 1956. Fr O'Sullivan had died in the middle of a building program. It fell to his successor to carry on the work - which meant pay for it in the middle of the depression. At the school opening, Archbishop Duhig commended his financial acumen in the words: 'Fr Coleman was the only man in Queensland who could raise the money at 3% interest.'

Fr Coleman was uprooted in 1956 to move to Wilston but a decline in health had already begun. He struggled on for a few years before being admitted to the Mater and ultimately transferred to Mt Olivet Hospital. Here he died on 1st January 1962.

At the Cathedral, Archbishop Duhig paid a brief tribute in which 'he extolled the priestly role and zealous pastoral work of Fr Coleman for almost forty years'.

The funeral proceeded to Nudgee Cemetery.

(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:
Rev Patrick Coleman, died 1 Jan 1962

Patrick Coleman was born at Mt Melleray, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, Ireland on 10th June, 1896. His brother, John Coleman was Bishop of Armidale (1932-47). He also had one other brother and three sisters. He was educated at the Boys School, Mt Melleray, from there he went on to the seminary in that town, and finally on to All Hallows, Dublin. He was ordained priest there, for the Brisbane Archdiocese, on 19th June, 1921. He arrived in Australia in 1922 and served in the following centres: Assistant Priest, Toowoomba (1922-26); Pittsworth (1927-28); Fortitude Valley; Cavendish Road; Parish Priest, Booval (1930-56) and Wilston (1956-61). He died in Mt Olivet Hospital, Brisbane after a long illness, and was buried in the Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.