Mount Isa 50th
Mt Isa, Queensland, Australia
The celebrations in Mt Isa have begun well with Dinner on Saturday night and a Parish Mass on Sunday followed by lunch at St. Kieran’s and an evening of discussion/reflection on Indigenous and Celtic Spirituality.
The mood is one of love and respect for the brothers, for who they are and for what they have achieved over the past fifty years. It is inspiring to listen to the words of others as they extol the values which we, as brothers hold dear – Presence, Compassion and Liberation.
The three brothers, Brian, Lou and Jim, who minister at present in the Isa, were singled out for special mention. It was fitting that, following a power-point to the words and music of “Where to now Edmund?” we were treated to a public testimony of the worth of Lou, Jim and, in his absence, Brian, to the community of Mt Isa.
It was evident and it was a real living out of the Acts’ statement – See how these Christians love one another.
To be brother, a Christian brother, in this western city is respected and gratefully appreciated by all. What a wonderful statement about our brotherhood and about all who have served as brother in Mt Isa over the past fifty years!
Programme for the Week
| Saturday | Celebrations started with a Dinner |
| Sunday | Parish Mass followed by lunch at St. Kieran’s and discussion/reflection on Indigenous and Celtic Spirituality. |
| Monday | Bishop Michael will bless the new Library and covered area at St Kieran’s; the Flexi-Learning Centre; and, McAuley Place at Good Shepherd College. |
| At 5.30pm | Mass, followed by an evening sharing on “Presence” led by CREAT. |
| Tuesday |
Primary schools “retreat” led by CREAT. |
| At 5.30pm |
Mass, followed by an evening sharing on “Compassion” led by CREAT. |
| Wednesday |
Ladies’ Morning Tea; “Reflections” for Years 11 and 12 led by CREAT; |
| At 5:00pm |
Mass, followed by an evening sharing on “Liberation” led by CREAT. |
| Thursday |
Mass for all Catholic Schools |
I will finish this short report of the events with the blessing given by all Parishioners to the brothers present on Sunday and to all Christian Brothers:-
May the Good Shepherd, from whom our Parish family takes its name, give you the power, through God’s Spirit, for your hidden self to grow strong.
And may, Jesus, the Son, live in your heart through faith.
And then, planted in love, and built on love, may you be filled with the fullness of God.
By Ted Magee
Messages carried in the local paper
THE Christian Brothers will celebrate 50 years in Mount Isa on the 11th and 12th of September.
On September 27, 1959 the newly built St Kieran's Christian Brothers' College was blessed by the Bishop R. E. Ryan. The school was opened the following year. Br Tom Higgins was the first principal. The school and monastery were extended in 1967 to cater for 300 students from years 4 to 10. In 1985 the St Joseph's Catholic Primary School moved from mine-side to its location on 23rd Avenue, St Kieran's Primary School was formed and San Jose Secondary School for girls and St Kieran's Christian Brother's College for boys amalgamated into the Mount Isa Catholic High School.
Brothers continued to teach at Mount Isa Catholic High School and St Kieran's Primary School, but lay staff took a more significant part in the running of the school. Br Bill Tynan was the last teaching principal at the Mount Isa Catholic High School in 1999. The last Christian Brother to hold a teaching role in Mount Isa was Br Michael Talty who finished as deputy principal in 2003. Fifty-four Brothers have served in Mount Isa since they first began teaching in 1960.
Today, just three Brothers remain in Mount Isa - Brs Lou Walker, Brian Cumming and Jim Cameron.
More details and photos can be found at Northweststar
Br Lou Walker and Br Jim Cameron reminisced about their time in the city. Br Brian Cumming is currently in Brisbane and will not in Mount Isa for the 50th anniversary celebration.
Mount Isa the city and the Catholic community had changed a lot in the 50 years since the Brothers arrived. "Back when I first arrived in Mount Isa in 1975 and later in 1987 the Brothers ran the school and taught at the school," Br Walker said. "I guess that has been the biggest change. The town has also grown up a lot and the community has changed. When I first worked here there were a lot of Dutch and Finish immigrants, but now there is a different multicultural element with more Filipinos and Africans."
Today, the Brothers still work at the schools and in the Catholic community, but have vastly different roles. Br Lou takes on a school support role at St Kieran's Primary School and Br Jim works with the Catholic community throughout the North West. Br Brian is still based at Good Shepherd Catholic College in a chaplaincy role.
"As a young boy I always wanted to join the Brothers or be a Priest," Br Cameron said. "I just always knew it was the path for me and it has been a good journey."
