Anselm Bourke

Anselm Bourke OSB (10 September 1835 – 2 June 1924) was a Roman Catholic priest of Irish origins. He was prominent in Catholic education for several decades, and also founded the West Perth (now Northbridge) parish of the Church in 1901.

He was still studying to become a priest of the Benedictine order when he arrived in Western Australia on 24 May 1855 aboard the "Lady Amhurst" with Father Dominic Serra and several other Irish and French clergy. He completed his education and was ordained in 1859.

In 1860, Bourke was appointed to teach at the Roman Catholic boys' schools at Fremantle and Perth, where he became known as an able scholar and teacher. [cite book|title=The History of the Catholic Church in Western Australia|last=Bourke|first=D.F.|publisher=Archdiocese of Perth|year=1979|isbn=0-9596505-1-2|page=58] [cite book|title=State Education in Western Australia 1829-1960|last=Mossenson|first=David|publisher=University of Western Australia Press|year=1972|isbn=0-8556404-8-0|page=22] In 1864, he was appointed the first parish priest of York—prior to this, the parish had been administered by priests from Toodyay and New Norcia. He lived in simple quarters at the rear of the church and conducted Mass every Sunday. During his time in York, he employed ten ticket of leave men, including three as teachers.cite web|url=http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/CHURCHES%20-%20A-D/St%20Patricks%20&%28I-AD%29.PDF|title=Register of Heritage Places - St Patrick's Church, York|author=Heritage Council of Western Australia|date=17 October 2003|accessdate=2008-02-02] cite book|title=Dictionary of Western Australians (Volume I)|last=Erickson|first=Rica (ed.)|publisher=University of Western Australia Press|year=1988|isbn=0-85564-231-9|page=266]

Returning to Perth in 1870, he became the chaplain of Fremantle Prison, and taught at various schools. In 1885, he became the first resident priest of the Vasse region at Busselton. [Bourke, D.F., p.94.] In 1889, on returning to Perth, he became Vicar General for Western Australia serving under Bishop Matthew Gibney, and served voluntarily as New Norcia's agent in Perth, and canvassed the Government for a Roman Catholic representative on the Education Board.

He also became active in the debate over state aid to private schools, which had existed since 1871 and had become central to the public debate leading to the June 1894 elections in Western Australia. With the help of three Catholic members of the Legislative Assembly, he founded the Education Defence League to lobby for the continuation of state aid. [cite book |title = A New History of Western Australia |last=de Garis |first=Brian |editor = Stannage, C.T. |year= 1981 |publisher= University of Western Australia Press |location=Nedlands |isbn=0-85564-170-3 |chapter = Self-government and the evolution of party politics |pages= 342-343] The normally mild-mannered priest caused some sensation at a public meeting prior to the election by suggesting violence would result if state aid were lifted. [cite news|title=Editorial|work=The West Australian|date=23 May 1894|page=4] The battle was ultimately lost—the MPs who had supported him lost their seats at the election, and in late 1895 the Government passed a bill bringing the funding arrangement to an end.

In August 1894, he resigned as Vicar General, desiring to retire to New Norcia, but changed his mind thereafter, deciding that the number of Catholics arriving in Western Australia due to the gold rush and the cause of maintaining the private schools justified his continued presence. He became Chairman of the Education Board, a position which he held for a number of years. He was also a patron and benefactor of the Sisters of Mercy and financed St Mary's in Leederville and St Brigid's in West Perth, apparently from his own funds. He became a Monsignor in 1898 and the inaugural parish priest for West Perth in 1901, residing in the Presbytery of St Brigid's in Fitzgerald Street for the rest of his life. He also became involved with the foundation of the University of Western Australia.cite web|url=http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/S%20-%20A-D/St%20Brigid's%20Group%20(I-AD).PDF|title=Register of Heritage Places - St Brigid's Group|author=Heritage Council of Western Australia|date=18 May 2004|accessdate=2008-02-02]

He died in West Perth in 1924.

References

Persondata
NAME=Bourke, Anselm
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Nicholas Bourke
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=10 September 1835
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ireland
DATE OF DEATH=2 June 1924
PLACE OF DEATH=West Perth, Western Australia, Australia