The Late Bishop of Ballarat

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 30 June 1904, Page 19

The Late Bishop of Ballarat

Tuesday's morning papers announced the death of the Right Rev. Dr. Moore, Uishpp of Ballarat. Further refaren.ee tio this noted Prelate's demise, and an appreciation of his work, appear in our editorial Notes. The dqceased Bisihop was a native of the County of Korry, Ireland. His ecclesiastical studies were pursued in the groat foreign missionary college at All Hftllows, Dublin, ao-d he was raised to the priesthood in IND9. Shortly after his ordinatton he was chosen as chaplain to accompany a selected body of Irish immigrants who proceeded to Victoria towards uhe tlofee of tihe „ame yealr. After landing in Melbourne, the sphere selected for his administration's was Ballarat, artd Ballarat eotitirtued do be t.he scene of his unwearying labors, as priest •or as BiaUop, till the close of his long life. For a sliort period he wa*s assistant prievst in t'Jie city. Later o ( n he became priest in c^aige, arikl as tihe extension of Irhe city and tihe growtih of the population gave t)hat centre a ( ;reat ecclesiastical importance, he was created Its First Dea/n, and, by the title ' tha Dean ' he beoame widely and favorably known throughout Victoria. 'On ' Ballarat (to use the miners' phrase) he wielded a commanding influence among all classes and creeds. Ballarat was at that time a part of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In 1874 it was created an episcopal See, and the Right Rev. Dr. O'Connor ('previously parish priest of Rathfadnnani, Dublin) was appointed its fir^t Bishop. The late Dr. Moore wa.s appointed Vicar-Genexal by Dr. O'Connor, and (says Cardinal Maran in his monumental ' History of t>he Catholic Church in Australasia ') ' it has been justly remarked that Dr. O'Canhor was extremely fortunate in having before him in Ballarat one wh)o had sb t/h'oroug'hly identified hin^self witn the cause of religion amd education, and one who iwi'ders<t©bd so well the circumstariccs of the diocese ami of tjie people as the Right Rev. Dr. Moore ' Dr. O'Connor paswsed away on February 14, 1883. The Right Rev. Dr. Moore was appointed to succeed liim, an,d the ceremony of His Consecration Uo(ak place in his own cathedral oh April 27, 18,84. The Artohbish,op of Melbourne was the consecnating prelate. When the late Bishop Moore received tthe pastoral charge of the See of Ballarat, there weare in the diocese 27 priests and five communities of nulns. Towards the cldse of last year tihere -were 62 priests (53 of tAe soculair clergy and 9 Redemiptonst Fatihers), 16 religious Brothers, 257 niHis, one fine college for hoys, 10 boardrag schools for girls, 13 superior day schools, 56 primary schools, 2 magnificent institutes of charity, and 5600 dhiFdren in attendance at Catholic schools. The fine episcopal palace, the vast pile of Nazareth House, the admirable Catholic ball, the great Abbey of Lorcto, the ■noble monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers, and the beaiutiiul new Cathedral presbytery represent only a portion of the Edifices of Religidn built in Ballarat during the admin lstratioin of the late Bishop Moore. After an extensive renovation St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat, was con.secratod on November lt>, 1891, prelates being gathered from all parts of Alufctralia and from New Zealand Oo take part In tthe ceremony. Throughout the diocese equally marked piogress has been made, and there are few dioceses in the Southern Hemisphere better manned and better equipped for carrying out the work of God t«han that over which tihe late Dr. Moore ruled for tihe past twenty years. Two or three years ago his sight began to somewhat fail. It was the first indication of whiat hais turned out to be the apiproaching break-down of a rob\ist constitution. To Hhose in New Zealand who knew the deceased prelate, the news of his death has come, nevertheless, as a siharp surprise. May his soul rest in peace !