Patrick Dougherty (bishop)

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The Most Right Reverend

Patrick Dougherty
7th
Pontifical Urban University, both in Rome
MottoIuxta Crucem Discipulus
(at the Cross, the disciple)[1]

Patrick Dougherty (21 November 1931 in

Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
, serving for 25 years from 1983 until his retirement in 2008.

Early years and background

The second of four sons (three of whom became priests

St Patrick's Seminary, Manly and then Propaganda College, Rome where he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Pietro Sigismondi on 7 December 1954.[3]

In 1957 Dougherty obtained his

The Little Company of Mary. Between 1959 and 1961, Dougherty was a lecturer in logic, history of philosophy, Latin and Italian at St Columba's Seminary in Springwood, where he was also a dean of students and in 1961 director of the Spiritual Year for first year students. In early 1962, Dougherty returned to Rome as an assistant vice rector of his alma mater, Propaganda College, and by 1967 was appointed a vice rector of the college. His book, Mother Mary Potter, foundress of the Little Company of Mary was published in 1963.[3]

Dougherty returned to Australia in August 1970 to take up appointment to the newly established Secretariat of the

consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Thomas Cahill on 8 December 1976[3]
in St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra.

Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst

In 1983 Bishop Dougherty was appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst and was installed on 5 October 1983. After 25 years in office, he retired on 11 November 2008 and was elevated to the title of

bishop emeritus of Bathurst.[4][5] In a very unusual move by Dougherty, on the day before his retirement was announced, he issued a statement denouncing a booklet written by a priest of his diocese. The openly heretical booklet entitled God is Big. Real Big! by Father Peter Dresser, apparently denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.[6][7]

In 2009, Dougherty, together with

George Cardinal Pell and bishop emeritus of Sale, Jeremiah Coffey, consecrated Michael McKenna as bishop of Bathurst.[8]

Dougherty resided in Bathurst until his death at St Catherine's Aged Care facility on 30 August 2010 following a short battle with lung cancer.

Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by twenty bishops, including Bishop McKenna, Cardinal Pell, and the Papal Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Lazzarotto, and more than sixty priests. During the numerous eulogies at the mass, it was reported that Dougherty was considered a "... very humble and deeply spiritual man whose witness and example were a source of inspiration for all in the diocese of Bathurst".[1] He was "... undoubtedly good, considerate and compassionate. He was a very kind man."[11]

Selected works

  • Dougherty , Patrick (1963). Mother Mary Potter, foundress of the Little Company of Mary, 1847–1913. London: Sands. p. 304.

References

  1. ^ a b Myers, Kerry (19 September 2010). "Farewell to a 'gracious' pastor". The Catholic Weekly. Australia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Kerry (1 September 2010). "Bishop Dougherty dead at 78". Central Western Daily. Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Bishop Emeritus: Bishop Patrick Dougherty". Catholic Diocese of Bathurst. 2006. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  4. ^ Jones, Kerry (12 November 2008). "Bishop calling it a day". The Western Advocate. Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Dougherty resigns". CathNews. Australia. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Booklet sold at rebellious Brisbane parish denies Christ's divinity". Catholic Culture. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Australian bishop condemns priest's book". Catholic Culture. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Bishop Michael Joseph McKenna: Bishop of Bathurst". The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Bishop Patrick Dougherty: Bishop Emeritus of Bathurst". The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Former Bathurst Bishop Patrick Dougherty dies". CathNews. Australia. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Editorial: Vale, Bishop Pat". The Catholic Weekly. Australia. 19 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by 7th
Catholic Bishop of Bathurst

1983–2008 		Succeeded by
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