Bishop O'Connor's Sacerdotal Jubilee

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 37, 30 September 1925, Page 29

Bishop O'Connor's Sacerdotal Jubilee

His Lordship the Bishop of Armidale (the Right Rev. Dr. P. J. O'Connor), 'who on Tuesday celebrated his Sacerdotal Golden

Jubilee, was honored by a series of celebrations (says' the Catholic Press for September 17). Armidale was en fete, and distinguished visitors from all parts of the State flocked to the Cathedral city to join in appreciation of a life of. indefatigable effort for the Church, charity, and Catholic education.

The visitors included his Excellency the Apostolic; Delegate, and a great many members of the Hierarchy.

Festivities started on Monday with a procession, and the presentation of addresses to the Apostolic Delegate, and the Hierarchy. This was followed by a banquet in honor of the jiibilarian at the Ursuline Convent. On Tuesday, High Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral, and a civic reception was extended the visitors at the Town Hall. A conversazione was hekl at the Town Hall at night, when a series of presentations was made to his Lordship Dr. O'Connor. Yesterday the Bishops and clergy were entertained at a banquet at 12.30, after which they attended a garden party. Last night the celebrations concluded with a dinner and concert at De La Salle College.

Dr. O'Connor's Career

Born in Clonlea, Co. Waterford, Father O'Connor, as he was then, was 28 years old when he arrived at Armidale. He had received his earlier education from the Christian Brothers. It was intended that he should enter commercial life, but his early indications of the vocation he possessed were quickly responsible for a change of plans. He entered the Collegiate Seminary at Dungarvan, where he studied the classics, and from which he transferred to All Hallows, Dublin, where he pursued with brilliance his ecclesiastical studies, in company with Father Doyle and many others who later came to Australia. He. was ordained by the Right Rev. Dr. MDevitt, Bishop of Raphoe, in 1875, and did mission work for a few months

ENTHUSIASTIC CELEBRATIONS AT ARMIDALE.

in the Salford Diocese, England, under Bishop (afterwards Cardinal) Vaughan. In the following year the two friends left for Australia. Immediately Fathers O'Connor and Doyle entered their new arena they threw their heart and soul into the pioneering work, for which they seemed particularly suited. Long, tedious rides and drives, sick calls into the wilderness, under the. most uninviting winter conditions, appeared to be, to them, a special attraction; a wonderful privilege. , Their work was not without appreciation, and some reward. After six years' service, the second Bishop, Dr. Torreggiani elevated Father O'Connor to the dignity of Dean of Armidale, his friend obtaining a. similar appointment at Lismore. In 1886 Dr. O'Connor was further honored by his appointment as Vicar-General of the Diocese. When, in the following year, the old diocese was divided into the Dioceses of Armidale and Lismore, Dr. Doyle became Bishop of Lismore. But before this development took place tremendous work was to be done under the first existing order. Dr. O'Connor's duties as Vicar-General were telling, and he entered upon a well-deserved-holiday in 1888. He spent most of his time in the land of his birth, happy in the knowledge that he had behind him the very best wishes of the Diocese, and of his own Armidale in particular. The people of Armidale had demonstrated this by a presentation to the Vicar-General of a, cheque for £350. They were never slow to express, outwardly, their love of their pastor. Two years later, when Dr. O'Connor celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination, he was again showered with messages of goodwill, and again presented with a well-filled purse of sovereigns. The greatest compliment Dr. O'Connor received on that occasion was the dignity of Domestic Prelate, conferred upon him by his Holiness, on the recommendation of Dr. Torreggiani. More honors were to come. In the following year. Dr. O'Connor received from his Holiness the gold cross of the first class, "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice." In 19*3 Dr. O'Connor was still further elevated, being consecrated Coadjutor-Bishop to the venerable Dr. Torregiani, to whom he had been such a worthy lieutenant and friend. -

. MONDAY’S EVENTS. '‘••M /THE ARRIVAL OF THE GEESTS. A? Arm i dale was rejoicing in the complete glory of an Australian spring day when a very distinguished hand of prelates and members of the clergy arrived there on Monday morning to pay a tribute of their esteem to the Right Rev. Dr. O’Connor, the third Bishop of a progressive diocese. The scene at the station will be a memorable one in the history of Armidale —a profusion of motor cars, a gathering of people, a hustling and a bustling that might have been an excerpt from the “Pied Piper.” When! prelates, priests, and other visitors were seated in the vehicles, an inspiring procession wended its way through the quiet streets

of.-a well-ordered town, the Great Northern Road, Butler Street, Beardy : Street, Marsh Street, and Rusden Street, to St. Mary's Cathedral. .The beautiful structure, which will, stand put as a monument to the activity of; Dr. .O’Connor— “Bush Bishop and Builderj” as he was , described affectionately—was crowded, notwithstanding the early hour, i -There the distinguished visitors were received formally by his Lordship Dr. O’Confollowing the reception at the station, ’where over a hundred members of the A.H.O. Guild (under Bros. H. W. Fittler, warden F. O’Dea, deputy-; John Kelly, P.W. ; W. Hiscox, P.W.; F. Hiscox, P.W.; H. H. Howard, secretary; and P. Duffy, bursar), formed a guard of honor, and also were the guard at the Cathedral. The party of visiting-: prelates included his Excellency the -Apostolic Delegate (Most Rev. Dr. Cattaueo), his Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Sydney (Most Rev. Dr. Sheehan), his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington (Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, S.M.), his Grace the CoadjutorArchbishop of Hobart (Most Rev. Dr. Barry), their Lordships the Right Rev. Dr. W. Hayden (Bishop of Wilcanuia-Forbes), Right Rev. Dr. H. W. Cleary (Bishop of Auckland), Right Rev. Dr. Foley (Bishop of Ballarat), and Right Rev. Dr. McCarthy (Bishop of Sandhurst). In addition, there were present many visiting priests, representing the regular and secular clergy. ' At the Cathedral. Arriving at the Cathedral, where the Rev. Dr.. Coleman( Adm.), had charge of the proceedings, the visiting prelates were greeted with the rendition of the “Eece Sacerdos,” by the Children of Mary and the Ursuline ‘Convent school children, who were under the baton of the Rev. Brother Louis, of the De La Salle Brothers. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate presided on the sanctuary, when addresses of welcome were delivered. Id Right Rev. Dr. O’Connor, addressing the visiting prelates and priests, stated that be fully ' appreciated their goodwill and kindness in having come there for the purpose vof offering their congratulations to “a poor. Bush Bishop.” He fully appreciated the ; compliment thus paid him, and the sacrifice that they had made to be present !u,t day. He extended his thanks not only to the members of the Hierarchy, but to the “priests and the people. ipv if - Address to Apostolic Delegate. Right Rev. Mgr. M. Tobin, V.G.. IM'. ; (Glen Innes) extended his welcome to all the vvisiting prelates, and presented an address “of welcome to his Excellency. Prefacing the presentation of the address, Monsignor Tobin stated that they welcomed Archbishop Cattaneo as the worthy representative of the Vicar of Christ. He had come to officiate at the present ceremonies. It was not. howsoever “his' Excellency’s first visit to Armidale, for he had been present on the occasion of |the consecration of the Cathedral. , His Excellency’s Reply. Replying, his Excellency stated that it |whs|a_ great privilege and pleasure to him r to ■ be* present in Armidale on the occasion

of Dr. O’Connor’s Golden Jubilee, and to be able to “say something to the ‘ Bush Bishop,’ who has been so kind to me in every respect. I thank you. for your beautiful address of welcome,” his Excellency added. “I was hero for the consecration of this beautiful Cathedral. •,,, You have much to thank Dr. O’Connor for, and at this moment I thank God I have been privileged to come, and take part in the honoring of a worthy priest, and a representative of the Australian Hierarchy.” The Hierarchy Welcomed. An address was then read to the members of the Hierarchy, which extended to them a cordial welcome on behalf of the priests • f ♦ and laity. Archbishop Redwood’s Response. His Grace the Archbishop of Wellington responded. He deemed it a great honor to respond on behalf of the visiting prelates to the touching address that had been given to them. “It is over 40 years since I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Dr. O’Connor,” said his Grace, “and your zealous, noted, and wonderful bush prelate, the admirable leader of a great diocese. I have known him all these years, and wo have be£n friendly ; we have friendship between us that will last unto our graves. I desire to express our great rejoicing on the achievements of these 50 years of priesthood. That is a great boon before one's fellow-man and before God. “Before men,” his Grace added, “it would stand out, because it recalled what had been done during that term of priestly endeavor in the building of schools, convents, and churches. Before God, it would stand as a period during which the administration of the Sacraments was afforded.” His Grace proceeded to speak of the magnificence of the priest’s work, particularly in the offering of the Blessed Sacrament. “The priest stands as the representative of Christ,” he said. “He is another Christ, and on the altar he is His representative. Finally, he consummates his work with the Great Sacrifice of the Mass—which replaces all the other sacrifices of the ancients. It is a great event.” His Grace concluded: ft The next time we meet I am sure we will be able to congratulate Dr. O’Connor on his silver jubilee of episcopate.” Archbishop Barry. Supporting the response his Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Hobart (Most Rev. Dr. Barry), stated that he spoke not so much in his official capacity as a representative of the prelates so much as on behalf of the junior clergy, from whom, in the natural course of events, the future Hierarchy of Australia would come. He extended, on his and their behalf, a most cordial expression of thanks for the, welcome extended them. “To every one of us, it is a great pleasure to come here, and have some little part in the outpouring of congratulation and gladness that will come from the profoundest depths of the hearts of bishops, priests, and people, and from all over the Commonwealth. We have come here heartily and

readily to do honor to one. of the most splendid characters that has ever adorned .the Church in Australia. Your Bishop has many gifts, . and we see this morning, .as we look around this building, his gift of mind. But he has that most beautiful gift of —the gift of heart. He has been now 50 years gathering friends in every department and phase of life. I have heard a great deal about him during the term of our friendship, some 25 years, but I have never heard he has lost a, friend.” “I might take this structure, and say, viewing this great gathering, that it, in this great district, crystallises and epitomises the lifework of your great Bishop and people, who made possible the erection of this magnificent Cathedral. I place at the feet of your Bishop the love and reverence of the Hierarchy, and the deep affection of every priest in Australia.”

TUESDAY’S EVENTS. SOLEMN HIGH MASS. The climax of the celebration was the High Mass in the Cathedral on Tuesday morning, at which his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate presided. .His Lordship Bishop O’Connor was the celebrant, the, deacon being the Very Rev. Father J. T. Clancy (Tenterfield) and the subdeacon, Rev. Father P. Walsh (Inverell). The Right Rev. Mgr. O’Haran, D.D., P.A., P.P., was the assistant priest, and the Rev. Fathers J. Coleman, D.D. (Adm.), and J. McDermott (Bundarra), were masters of ceremonies. The Apostolic Delegate was attended by. the Rev, Dr. Gilroy, Secretary to the Delegation. The occasional sermon was preached by the Most Rev. Dr. Sheehan, Coadjutor-Archbishop of Sydney, who paid a glowing tribute to Bishop O’Connor for his untiring efforts on behalf of the Church in the Armidale diocese. He mentioned that the value of the buildings erected since Dr. O’Connor’s consecration was over £250,000. Archbishop Sheehan also read a. letter from the Pope to the Bishop, extending warm congratulations. Civic Reception. At noon the visiting prelates were tendered a civic reception in the Town Hall, which was taxed to its utmost capacity. The Mayor (Alderman Morgan Stephens) presided, and amongst those also on the platform were the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Duhig, and the visiting prelates. The Mayor, in the course of an eloquent speech, assured the visitors that Bishop O’Connor was held in the highest esteem by all sections of the Armidale community, and that they rejoiced to know that one of their citizens occupied such a high place in the esteem of the Catholic Hierarchy, that they should flock to the city to do him honor. The Mayor paid a tribute to Dr. O’Connor’s many sterling qualities, and declared that he had ever been of a tolerant nature, and recognised the rights of others. The Deputy-Mayor (Alderman Richardson) made appropriate reference to the occasion. Acknowledgment was made from the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Redwood, Archbishop Duhig, Archbishop Barry, Bishop Oleary, and Bishop Foley.

Dr. O'Connor, in moving a vote of thanks to the Mayor, expressed sincere thanks that his guest's had been so highly honored. He deeply appreciated the presence of the "prelates, who had made long and tiresome journeys to honor a "poor Bush Bishop." v '

Banquet and Conversazione.

At mid-day the visitors were .entertained at, the Ursuline Convent, at a banquet, and in the afternoon a largely-attended conversazione took place in the Town Hall. The celebrations concluded on Wednesday with social events at Do La Salle College and St. Patrick's Orphanage.