Anselm Bourke

Mgr Anselm Bourke, born Nicholas Bourke, (Dublin, 10 September 1835 – West Perth, 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 made his profession as a Benedictine monk in 1858, but got dispensation from his monastic vows from the Vatican in 1871; therefore, he cannot be called a Benedictine.

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 the Spanish Benedictine Father José María Benito Serra OSB -also known as Joseph Serra in Western Australia-, and several other clergymen, mostly Spaniards, but also Irish and French. He made his religious profession on 26 July 1858, and 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. 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.

Returning to Perth in 1870, he became the chaplain of Fremantle Prison, and taught at various schools. He got dispensation from his monastic vows on 30 April 4, 1871, but his name would still be the one he used in his profession, for which he was known in the Colony, not his birth one.

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