Michael O'Farrell (bishop)
The Right Reverend Michael O'Farrell | |
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4th St Patrick's Seminary, Maynooth |
Michael O'Farrell (7 April 1865 in Milhow,
Early years and background
Educated at
Arriving in Sydney in 1913, O'Farrell took up residence at St Vincent's, Ashfield with the intention of conducting mission work. However, he was asked to act as the Spiritual Director of the two diocesan seminaries, firstly at St Columba's College, Springwood, and later at
Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst
At 55-years of age, O'Farrell was elected Bishop of Bathurst on 16 June 1920, some ten months after the death of his predecessor. His election was considered a surprise by some as O'Farrell had never served as a parish priest in Australia, nor held the office of Superior in his own community, or, it would seem, any administrative position other than that of Vice Rector at St John's. O'Farrell was
After an expansionist period under
In 1926, he brought the
However, O'Farrell was not without his critics, most notably the Patrician Brothers who felt that he was more favourably inclined towards the Vincentians at St Stanislaus’ College. When the Patrician Brothers opened a boarding section attached to the parish school in Dubbo in 1921, O'Farrell claimed that the Brothers failed to teach the prescribed syllabus, which was the same syllabus as that laid down for the state schools. When a summer school of teachers was organised by O'Farrell with attendees from the
As bishop, O'Farrell led a relatively private life, with the exception of a public battle with the
Aware that his health was failing, O'Farrell travelled to Rome for the Holy Year celebrations in 1925, taking his administrator,
References
- ^ "Bishop Michael O'Farrell, C.M." The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cooney (C.M.), Greg (September 2004). "The First Vincentian Bishop in Australia: Michael O'Farrell" (PDF). Oceania Vincentian. 5: 13–29. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "The Australian Province". St Mary's House of Welcome. 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ Paul O’Connell, “The Expulsion of the Patrician Brothers from the Diocese of Bathurst, 1924-1927”, Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society, 6 (3) (1980), 6-11.
- ^ "Bishop's Estate". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 24 August 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 23 September 2011.