Remembering Former Lasallian Archbishop Francis Carroll

The De La Salle Brothers remember the life and service of Archbishop Francis Carroll after his passing in March 2024. Archbishop Carroll served the community for almost 70 years, including as the Bishop of Wagga Wagga and the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn. Before answering this lifelong call, Archbishop Carroll developed his foundation of Catholic principles under the guidance of the De La Salle Brothers. He attended De La Salle College Marrickville, now known as Casimir College Marrickville, for his secondary education.  

The Lasallian Brothers are honoured to have been part of the Archbishop’s early religious growth and now thankfully remember his life of service. 

Francis Carroll was born in 1930 to Patrick and Rose Carroll in Ganmain, New South Wales. Growing up in this small town with his six siblings left a lasting impact on Carroll. Canberra and Gouburn’s current Archbishop Christopher Prowse said that Carroll never lost the “personal charm of his rural family background.” Parishioners and community members always felt comfortable with Archbishop Carroll thanks to the “humble and prayerful manner” he carried forward from his upbringing. 

Archbishop Carroll attended the local Ganmain school until it was time to begin secondary studies. He then transferred to De La Salle College Marrickville in Sydney, almost 500km from his home. Carroll was only two years older than the College, which De La Salle Brothers founded in 1932 to teach boys and young men throughout the Marrickville parish. The Archbishop completed his secondary education at De La Salle College Marrickville before pursuing his vocation. 

Although Sydney was far from home, Archbishop Carroll benefitted greatly from the Marrickville parish’s educational legacy. The parish already had a strong tradition of Catholic education by the time the De La Salle Brothers established their College. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan began a girls’ school, St Brigid’s School Marrickville, in the 1880s. The Passionist Priests and Brothers also began working in the parish in the 1880s.  

De La Salle College Marrickville and St Brigid’s School Marrickville taught the parish’s boys and girls as partner institutions for 50 years, from 1932 to 1982. Then the two schools merged into a single, co-education College in 1983. The institution changed its name to Casimir Catholic College in honour of a Passionist priest who was influential in the school’s early development. 

Like all Lasallian students, Archbishop Carroll’s education was grounded in the Lasallian mission of providing a human, Christian education to the young, especially the poor. The order was founded by St John Baptiste De La Salle in France during the 1680s. De La Salle opened the first schools in Europe to freely serve children of the lower social classes. At the time, the children of peasants and artisans had few options for formal education or social advancement. Lasallian schools have been dedicated to providing a holistic education to all learners ever since these early days. 

The Lasallian commitment to educating all students had a great impact on Archbishop Carroll’s life. Growing up in a small town, his options after primary school were limited. He was able to explore new opportunities for learning and service by attending De La Salle College Marrickville.  

After his secondary education, Archbishop Carroll completed seminary studies at St Columba’s Seminary in Springwood and St Patrick’s Seminary in Manly. He was ordained as a priest in Ganmain. He then became Bishop of Wagga Wagga in 1968 and was appointed the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn in 1983. Archbishop Carroll served in this position until 2006. He was also the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference from 2000 to 2006. 

Archbishop Carroll retired to Wagga Wagga in 2006. Funeral liturgies, a Pontifical Requiem Mass and internment in St Christopher’s Cathedral crypt were celebrated for Archbishop Carroll after his passing. 

May he rest in peace.

Photo: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.