Robert Little | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Robert Little SJ Title: Rev First Name: Robert Middle Names: John Preferred Name: Surname: Little Order: SJ Date of Birth: 27-Jun-1865 Place of Birth: Newfoundland Country of Birth: Canada Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 21-Jul-1933 Place of Death: Brisbane QLD Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1933 Place of Burial: Nudgee, Brisbane QLD Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177894315 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Little, Robert Teacher and pastor; born Newfoundland, 27 June 1865; died Brisbane, 21 July 1933, aged 68. Robert Little was the son of the then premier of Newfoundland, but was domiciled at Monkstown, Dublin, and was educated at Clongowes College, 1880-84. He entered the Society, 10 April 1885, and, early in 1887, was sent to Australia to complete his noviciate and juniorate. He began teaching French and English at Riverview, 1888-94, and was also involved with rowing, debating and the library. He went to Jersey for philosophy and then Milltown Park for theology, and was ordained in 1901. Tertianship was undertaken at Mold, Wales, 1901-02. He taught at Belvedere College, Dublin, 1902-03, and was solemnly professed, 15 August 1904. He set sail again for Australia in 1903. For several years he was attached to the staff at Riverview, and was prefect of studies, 1905-13. He spent a few years in the parish of Richmond and St Patrick's College, and in 1916 was transferred to the Brisbane parish of Toowong where he remained until his death. During these years he distinguished himself as a controversialist. While he was at Riverview, his students believed him to be an admirable teacher of English. He loved Chaucer and was given that name. Not only was he painstaking in his work, but he also gave the impression of giving his students individual tutorship. He gave graphic illustrations of what he wanted to convey in his teaching. There was a charm of mind and manner about Little that no one who knew him well would easily forget. He was a reserved person, even shy, which was not easy to penetrate. He had a mind well stocked with a wide range of information, an excellent literary taste and a delicate sense of values that made his criticism valuable and sought after. His keen intellect made him deadly in controversy and this led to his being feared by anti-Catholic propagandists. He had an old world culture that was singularly attractive, but he was also unpractical and somewhat distrait. To this he added a gentleness of manner and a kindness of heart. Through his charm of manner there shone a strong spiritual man. His last illness lasted two years and he bore his pain with resignation, but patient endurance. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Robert

Middle Names:

John

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Little

Order:

Date of Birth:

27-Jun-1865

Place of Birth:

Newfoundland

Country of Birth:

Canada

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

21-Jul-1933

Place of Death:

Brisbane QLD

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1933

Place of Burial:

Nudgee, Brisbane QLD

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177894315

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Little, Robert

Teacher and pastor; born Newfoundland, 27 June 1865; died Brisbane, 21 July 1933, aged 68.

Robert Little was the son of the then premier of Newfoundland, but was domiciled at Monkstown, Dublin, and was educated at Clongowes College, 1880-84.

He entered the Society, 10 April 1885, and, early in 1887, was sent to Australia to complete his noviciate and juniorate. He began teaching French and English at Riverview, 1888-94, and was also involved with rowing, debating and the library. He went to Jersey for philosophy and then Milltown Park for theology, and was ordained in 1901. Tertianship was undertaken at Mold, Wales, 1901-02. He taught at Belvedere College, Dublin, 1902-03, and was solemnly professed, 15 August 1904.

He set sail again for Australia in 1903. For several years he was attached to the staff at Riverview, and was prefect of studies, 1905-13. He spent a few years in the parish of Richmond and St Patrick's College, and in 1916 was transferred to the Brisbane parish of Toowong where he remained until his death. During these years he distinguished himself as a controversialist.

While he was at Riverview, his students believed him to be an admirable teacher of English. He loved Chaucer and was given that name. Not only was he painstaking in his work, but he also gave the impression of giving his students individual tutorship. He gave graphic illustrations of what he wanted to convey in his teaching.

There was a charm of mind and manner about Little that no one who knew him well would easily forget. He was a reserved person, even shy, which was not easy to penetrate. He had a mind well stocked with a wide range of information, an excellent literary taste and a delicate sense of values that made his criticism valuable and sought after. His keen intellect made him deadly in controversy and this led to his being feared by anti-Catholic propagandists. He had an old world culture that was singularly attractive, but he was also unpractical and somewhat distrait. To this he added a gentleness of manner and a kindness of heart. Through his charm of manner there shone a strong spiritual man. His last illness lasted two years and he bore his pain with resignation, but patient endurance.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Robert Little SJ

Biographical Notes