Pierre-Marie Bucas

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

In his childhood he attended the local parochial school and continued his studies in the Petit Seminaire of Sainte Anne D'Auray.

[1] Having completed his schooling, Bucas felt called to become a priest and work as a missionary in foreign countries.

This seminary prepared young priests, who, after their ordination, would set sail from France for the distant missions of Africa, China, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

Hearing the call for volunteers to defend the Papal States, Bucas and some of his fellow seminarians decide to fight for the sacred cause.

About that time Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, Vicar-Apostolic of Western Oceania, happened to be on a visit to France seeking priests for the Māori mission in New Zealand.

Bucas was inspired by the Bishop's description of the mission and he committed himself to missionary work with the island tribes that were still "living in darkness and in the shadow of death."

During those years Bucas had grown to respect the Māori, had learned their language, and was deeply interested in their welfare, both spiritual and practical.

One day in a secluded location, Bucas accidentally came upon a group of Maoris practising military drills in preparation to fight the British.

Hearing of the Governor's predicament, O'Quinn brought Bucas to Government House, and introduced him to Bowen.

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.

[1] Starting in 1874, Father Bucas acquired 1,680 acres (680 ha) of land through a series of purchases in present-day Bucasia, which he used to establish a community for displaced Aboriginal people.

[1] In 1912, due to poor health, Bucas left Mackay for the drier climate of Barcaldine, where he worked with his nephew, Father Julien Plormel.

During World War I, Plormel served as an army chaplain for three years, leaving Bucas to manage alone in Barcaldine.

[1][15] Bucas retired to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital at Rockhampton, nominally to act as chaplain to the Sisters.

Physically frail, but still with almost the full use of his faculties, he passed his days in prayer, enjoying the companionship of the Sisters and others who visited to talk or read with him.

[1] His other nephew Father Jules Bucas of Coorparoo died unexpectedly after an operation on 26 August 1930 in Brisbane.