Pierre-Marie Bucas

Pierre-Marie Bucas (1840–1930) was a pioneer Roman Catholic priest in Waikato, New Zealand, and Queensland, Australia.

Early life Bucas was born in the small town of Saint-Jean-la-Poterie, Brittany, France on 21 August 1840. He was the 11th of a family of 12 children. In his childhood he attended the local parochial school and continued his studies in the Petit Seminaire of Sainte Anne D'Auray. He acquired a good knowledge of Greek and Latin. The Pope then blessed and thanked Bucas and allowed him remain with the Zouaves. Bucas fought through the whole campaign. Bowen was concerned about taking up the appointment in New Zealand without any knowledge of the Māori language with whom he would have to deal with very tactfully. Hearing of the Governor's predicament, O'Quinn brought Bucas to Government House, and introduced him to Bowen. It was arranged that Bucas should teach Bowen the Māori language Bucas. Bowen proved an apt pupil and when he left for New Zealand, was able to sing Maori songs and make passable speech in the language. The Maoris were surprised but delighted when the new Governor addressed them in their language, and this created positive feelings towards the new Governor.

Mackay After two years in Brisbane, Bucas become ill. Dr Kevin Izod O'Doherty recommended that Bucas would benefit from a more northern climate. It was decided he should go to Mackay, which he did in company of Thomas Henry Fitzgerald, a successful pioneer sugar planter in the Mackay district. The swamp in the west of the Bucasia locality is still known as Orphanage Swamp . From there, he travelled overland towards the Gulf of Carpentaria holding services along the way.

Charters Towers Circa November 1882, Bucas was promoted to the parish of the new goldfield, Charters Towers, where he was assisted by Reverend. W. Hanley and Reverend W. Hackett. The parish was an extremely large one, extending from the Townsville side of Charters Towers to the outback beyond Cloncurry; it is over from Charters Towers to Cloncurry. At that time, there were no railways and travelling had to be done by coach or packhorses. The priests were often on horseback for long distances.

Return to Mackay In 1887, Bucas returned to his former parish of Mackay, where he served for another 25 years. He built a magnificent church in Mackay, and also established church buildings in the surrounding rural areas. He was assiduous in his attendance at the hospital and the homes of the sick, and was well-regarded by all as a kindly and sympathetic priest. but continued to serve in Barcaldine, until his health forced him to go to Rockhampton in January 1921 where he died in March 1921. His death was a great blow to Bucas, who was too frail to make the journey to be with Plormel at his death.

Later life Bucas retired to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital at Rockhampton, nominally to act as chaplain to the Sisters. His funeral was on Friday 24 October 1930 at St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral. He was buried afterwards in Rockhampton Cemetery.

Legacy In February 1938, the Pioneer Shire Council unanimously voted to rename the town of Seaview to Bucasia after him.

As Bucas had been Mackay's first Catholic priest and had served there for over 40 years in total, there was regret among the Catholics of Mackay that he was not buried in that town. On 17 November 1947, his remains were exhumed in Rockhampton, and, following a number of impressive ceremonies in St Patrick's Catholic church, his remains were re-interred in the Mackay Cemetery.

On Sunday 2 October 1988, a monument to commemorate Bucas and his orphanage was unveiled at Seaview Park in Bucasia Esplanade, Bucasia .