Patrick Ambrose Treacy
Encyclopedia
Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy CFC
(31 August 1834 – 2 October 1912) was a Roman Catholic educationist who established the first permanent Christian Brothers
community in Australia
in 1868.
, in County Tipperary
, Ireland
. He was educated at the Christian Brothers school in Thurles, and he himself joined the congregation in Waterford
(where the Congregation’s founder, Edmund Ignatius Rice
, had founded the first school) in February 1852.
asked for a community of Christian Brothers to establish schools in Victoria, Australia. Treacy was chosen as leader, and with three confrères arrived in Melbourne
in the Donald McKay in November. Treacy opened a primary school in Lonsdale Street in 1869.
Undaunted by lack of money, Treacy initiated a colony-wide campaign to finance land and buildings. With generous help from colonists of all religious backgrounds a college was erected in Victoria Parade on Eastern Hill, Melbourne. Duly called Parade College
, this school still operates, albeit on a new site at Bundoora. Opened in January 1871, its final cost was about £12,000.
By 1900, when Br. Treacy retired after thirty years as a provincial superior, he had established twenty-seven schools in the principal cities of Australia, and one in New Zealand
. He was recalled to Ireland in 1900 as an assistant to the superior-general of the Christian Brothers, and returned to the Australian province in 1910. Although retired, he insisted on working and was sent to Brisbane
, where he died at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, on 2 October 1912.
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
(31 August 1834 – 2 October 1912) was a Roman Catholic educationist who established the first permanent Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
community in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1868.
Early life
Br. Treacy was born on 31 August 1834 at ThurlesThurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was educated at the Christian Brothers school in Thurles, and he himself joined the congregation in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
(where the Congregation’s founder, Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
, had founded the first school) in February 1852.
Foundation in Australia
In 1868 Bishop James Alipius GooldJames Alipius Goold
James Alipius Goold was an Australian Augustinian friar and the founding Roman Catholic Bishop and Archbishop of Melbourne in Australia.-Early years and background:...
asked for a community of Christian Brothers to establish schools in Victoria, Australia. Treacy was chosen as leader, and with three confrères arrived in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in the Donald McKay in November. Treacy opened a primary school in Lonsdale Street in 1869.
Undaunted by lack of money, Treacy initiated a colony-wide campaign to finance land and buildings. With generous help from colonists of all religious backgrounds a college was erected in Victoria Parade on Eastern Hill, Melbourne. Duly called Parade College
Parade College
Parade College, Bundoora, Victoria, is an Australian Roman Catholic all-lads high school, run under the auspices of the Congregation of Christian Brothers.The school was founded by four Christian Brothers in January 1871...
, this school still operates, albeit on a new site at Bundoora. Opened in January 1871, its final cost was about £12,000.
By 1900, when Br. Treacy retired after thirty years as a provincial superior, he had established twenty-seven schools in the principal cities of Australia, and one in New Zealand
Kavanagh College
Kavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
. He was recalled to Ireland in 1900 as an assistant to the superior-general of the Christian Brothers, and returned to the Australian province in 1910. Although retired, he insisted on working and was sent to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, where he died at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, on 2 October 1912.