A blessing for the town

Photo: St Mary’s Catholic Church from Bazaar Street, 1909. Image courtesy of the Maryborough Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society.

Father Paul Tissot 

Maryborough’s first Parish Priest was Father Paul Tissot, a member of the small French order of the Augustinian of Assumptions. Described as humble, pious and zealous, Fr. Tissot never mastered English and caused amusement with some of his language mishaps, such as the time he tried to engage a young woman teacher for the school. He declared interest that he wanted to “become engaged” to her!

Father Tissot had numerous talents beyond his pastoral duties. He landscaped the grounds surrounding the church and provided a chancel screen and other timber panelling carved by himself.

A french connection

Perched high atop St Mary’s Catholic Church sits a little link with Fr Tissot’s French roots – the Rooster that looks to the rising sun in the East on the roof. The Rooster is a strong Christian symbol – crowing each dawn symbolises the victory of light over darkness and the triumph of good over evil.

St Mary's Rooster

Did you know? 
The rooster is also an emblem of the Christian’s attitude of watchfulness and readiness for the sudden return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment of humankind.