Rev. Fr. Patrick Bernard Doyle
(namesake of MSB)
Fr. Patrick Bernard Doyle OSA.
Gravestone of Fr. Patrick Bernard Doyle, Herberton CemeteryFr. Patrick Beranrd Doyle OSA ("Fr. Bernard") was the Parish Priest of Herberton and surrounding districts from 1906 until 1924. etc.........
MSB was the dream of Heberton Pastor, Fr. Bernard Doyle, to ensure optimal educational opportunities for the families of his vast parish. Fr. Bernard was first appointed to Herberton in 1906 but was soon recalled back to Cairns. He returned to Heberton in 1909 where he would remain as Pastor until he died in 1924. In 1910, he opened the first Catholic school in the Southern Tablelands: St. Patrick's Primary School and entrusted the teaching and administration of this school to the Sisters of Mercy. This began the community of Sisters of Mercy which would in a few years expand and take on the teaching and administration of Mount St. Bernard College.
A small boarding facility named St. Jospeph's was operated across the road from St. Patrick's and run by "Matron Murphy" and her husband Mick. Matron Murphy had previously been employed as Matron of the Herberton Hospital. St. Joseph's could cater for up to 30 children.
Fr. Bernard quickly foresaw the need for the opportunity for high school classes for the young ladies from across his widespread parish and this would also necessitate a new boarding facility. Fr Bernard attended to the various logistics such as acquiring additional land and securing a suitable architect and builders and negotiated with the Sisters of Mercy - already in Herberton administing St. Patrick's School - to expand their community in order to take on the running of the future boarding facility and high school. No doubt he also had his hands full fundraising to make all this happen. Fr. Bernard did all this while plowing away at what would have been a full-enough job overseeing the pastoral needs of his parish.
Reports from the time portray Fr. Bernard as a respected and much-loved pastor, due in no small part to his down-to-earth and friendly character. He genuinely loved his community and in turn they loved their spiritual father. This is more notable because of the fact that Herberton Catholics were known for their forthrightness having stood-up to previous pastors whom they felt were not caring for their community as well as they ought. He also had a cheeky streak: he was known to dispense with Catholic protocol of the day and call the Sisters by their given names rather than their more formal religious names. This was looked upon disappovingly by the older Sisters, we are told; but nonetheless, Fr Bernard preferred an amicable relationship over a formal one any day.
When in 1924 the Good Lord called Fr. Bernard to his heavenly rest, it was noted as extraordinary that all the businesses in Herberton closed that day and the people of Herberton - both Catholic and non-Catholic alike - lined the streets for his funeral procession. He is buried in the Herberton cemetery; and in tribute to the significant place he holds in the heart of MSB, a memorial stone is kept in his honour in the Sisters' cemetery at MSB (aka: "Calvary").
MSB was the dream of Heberton Pastor, Fr. Bernard Doyle, to ensure optimal educational opportunities for the families of his vast parish. Fr. Bernard was first appointed to Herberton in 1906 but was soon recalled back to Cairns. He returned to Heberton in 1909 where he would remain as Pastor until he died in 1924. In 1910, he opened the first Catholic school in the Southern Tablelands: St. Patrick's Primary School and entrusted the teaching and administration of this school to the Sisters of Mercy. This began the community of Sisters of Mercy which would in a few years expand and take on the teaching and administration of Mount St. Bernard College.
A small boarding facility named St. Jospeph's was operated across the road from St. Patrick's and run by "Matron Murphy" and her husband Mick. Matron Murphy had previously been employed as Matron of the Herberton Hospital. St. Joseph's could cater for up to 30 children.
Fr. Bernard quickly foresaw the need for the opportunity for high school classes for the young ladies from across his widespread parish and this would also necessitate a new boarding facility. Fr Bernard attended to the various logistics such as acquiring additional land and securing a suitable architect and builders and negotiated with the Sisters of Mercy - already in Herberton administing St. Patrick's School - to expand their community in order to take on the running of the future boarding facility and high school. No doubt he also had his hands full fundraising to make all this happen. Fr. Bernard did all this while plowing away at what would have been a full-enough job overseeing the pastoral needs of his parish.
Reports from the time portray Fr. Bernard as a respected and much-loved pastor, due in no small part to his down-to-earth and friendly character. He genuinely loved his community and in turn they loved their spiritual father. This is more notable because of the fact that Herberton Catholics were known for their forthrightness having stood-up to previous pastors whom they felt were not caring for their community as well as they ought. He also had a cheeky streak: he was known to dispense with Catholic protocol of the day and call the Sisters by their given names rather than their more formal religious names. This was looked upon disappovingly by the older Sisters, we are told; but nonetheless, Fr Bernard preferred an amicable relationship over a formal one any day.
When in 1924 the Good Lord called Fr. Bernard to his heavenly rest, it was noted as extraordinary that all the businesses in Herberton closed that day and the people of Herberton - both Catholic and non-Catholic alike - lined the streets for his funeral procession. He is buried in the Herberton cemetery; and in tribute to the significant place he holds in the heart of MSB, a memorial stone is kept in his honour in the Sisters' cemetery at MSB (aka: "Calvary").