Bernard O'Reilly (bishop of Liverpool)
Encyclopedia
Bernard O’Reilly was an Irish
-born prelate
who served as the third Roman Catholic
Bishop of Liverpool
from 1873 until his death in 1894.
, County Monaghan
on 10 January (or 10 June) 1824, he was educated for a short time at the Seminary
in Navan
, County Meath
, Ireland. He entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
, County Durham
, England on 10 June 1836 to continue his training for the priesthood
. Whilst at Ushaw, he received the tonsure
and the four minor orders
from Bishop William Riddell
on 15 February 1845. From the same bishop, O'Reilly was ordained
a subdeacon
on 20 September 1845, a deacon
on 19 December 1846, and a priest
on 9 May 1847. He left Ushaw on 17 May 1847 and the next day began the mission at St Patrick's, Liverpool
. He transferred to the mission at St Vincent de Paul's, Liverpool on 8 December 1852, and appointed a canon
of the chapter
of Liverpool on 24 December 1860.
of the Diocese of Liverpool by the Holy See
on 28 February 1873. His consecration
to the Episcopate
took place on 19 March 1873, the principal consecrator
was Archbishop (later Cardinal) Henry Edward Manning of Westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Robert Cornthwaite
of Beverley (later Bishop of Leeds) and Bishop James Chadwick
of Hexham and Newcastle.
He died in office on 9 April 1894, aged 70.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
who served as the third Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Bishop of Liverpool
Archbishop of Liverpool
The Archbishop of Liverpool heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
from 1873 until his death in 1894.
Early life and ministry
Born in BallybayBallybay
Ballybay, County Monaghan is a town in County Monaghan in Ireland, centered on the crossroads of the R183 and R162 regional roads. The name in English means "The Mouth of the Ford of the Birches".- Town layout :...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
on 10 January (or 10 June) 1824, he was educated for a short time at the Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland. He entered St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
Ushaw College
Ushaw College was a Roman Catholic seminary near Durham, England that closed in 2011. Ushaw was the principal seminary in the north of England for the training of Catholic priests.-History:...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England on 10 June 1836 to continue his training for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. Whilst at Ushaw, he received the tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
and the four minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
from Bishop William Riddell
William Riddell
William Riddell was a Roman Catholic bishop who briefly served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England in 1847.-Early life and ministry:...
on 15 February 1845. From the same bishop, O'Reilly was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
on 20 September 1845, a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on 19 December 1846, and a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 9 May 1847. He left Ushaw on 17 May 1847 and the next day began the mission at St Patrick's, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He transferred to the mission at St Vincent de Paul's, Liverpool on 8 December 1852, and appointed a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of Liverpool on 24 December 1860.
Episcopal career
He was appointed the BishopBishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Diocese of Liverpool by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 28 February 1873. His consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
to the Episcopate
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
took place on 19 March 1873, the principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Archbishop (later Cardinal) Henry Edward Manning of Westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Robert Cornthwaite
Robert Cornthwaite (bishop)
Robert Cornthwaite was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was last Bishop of Beverley and the first Bishop of Leeds.-Early life and ministry:...
of Beverley (later Bishop of Leeds) and Bishop James Chadwick
James Chadwick (bishop)
James Chadwick was an Anglo-Irish Roman Catholic priest, and second Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Life:...
of Hexham and Newcastle.
He died in office on 9 April 1894, aged 70.