James William Gleeson
Encyclopedia
James William Gleeson was an Australia
n clergyman and the sixth Archbishop of Adelaide
. He was the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.
, north of Adelaide in South Australia
. He his early education in Balaklava, attending a Josephite
school before going to boarding school at Sacred Heart College
in Somerton Park, South Australia
, a Marist Brothers
college. Gleeson's studies for the priesthood were undertaken at Corpus Christi College
in Werribee, Victoria
, and he was ordained by Archbishop Matthew Beovich in Adelaide's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral
on 24 July 1945. After serving as an assistant priest in the cathedral parish for a year, Beovich sent Gleeson to a teacher's college in Melbourne
for a year, and in 1952 appointed him Director of Catholic Education for the archdiocese,. In 1958, Gleeson received Queen's Birthday Honours
, becoming a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
(CMG). Cited for the award was his work with young people, both as Director of Catholic Education and through his participation with organisations dealing with the education and welfare of students.
. Pope Pius XII
appointed Gleeson to the position, and he was consecrated by Beovich on 21 May 1957, becoming Adelaide's first South Australian ordinary
. To Gleeson, Beovich delegated responsibility for Catholic Action
movements and Catholic radio and television, and he eventually came to chair a number of diocesan committees and councils. The Archbishop also tasked him with the ordination of new priests and parish visitation. However, the most important parts of the diocesian administration, such as financial and policy matters, remained under Beovich's control.
In July 1964, Gleeson was appointed coadjutor archbishop, in effect naming him as Beovich's successor. Beovich retired on 1 May 1971, making Gleeson the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.
On 20 March 2000, Archbishop Gleeson died as the result of a heart attack. His funeral was held at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. The Catholic school Gleeson College
is named in his honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n clergyman and the sixth Archbishop of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
. He was the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.
Early life
James William Gleeson was born on 24 December 1920 in BalaklavaBalaklava, South Australia
The town of Balaklava is located in South Australia, 92 kilometres north of Adelaide in the Mid North region. It is on the banks of the Wakefield River, 25 kilometres east of Port Wakefield.-History:...
, north of Adelaide in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He his early education in Balaklava, attending a Josephite
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the Josephites , were founded in Penola, South Australia in 1866 by Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods....
school before going to boarding school at Sacred Heart College
Sacred Heart College, Adelaide
Sacred Heart College is a Catholic school upholding the Marist tradition in the Adelaide beachside suburb of Somerton Park, South Australia...
in Somerton Park, South Australia
Somerton Park, South Australia
Somerton Park is a suburb of Adelaide in South Australia. The mainly residential seaside suburb is home to the Somerton Park Beach, and also to Sacred Heart College.Somerton Park Post Office opened on 1 July 1947 and closed in 1988.-References:...
, a Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
college. Gleeson's studies for the priesthood were undertaken at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Melbourne
Corpus Christi College is the regional seminary of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. The seminary is administered by a board of Episcopal Trustees comprising the Archbishops of Melbourne and Hobart, the Bishops of Ballarat, Sandhurst and Sale, and the Auxiliary...
in Werribee, Victoria
Werribee, Victoria
Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
, and he was ordained by Archbishop Matthew Beovich in Adelaide's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral
St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral
St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Adelaide, South Australia is the Roman Catholic cathedral in that city. It is classified as being a Gothic Revival building in the Early English style. The tower stands 36 m high and is 56.5 m lengthwise and 29.5 m horizontally. The foundation stone...
on 24 July 1945. After serving as an assistant priest in the cathedral parish for a year, Beovich sent Gleeson to a teacher's college in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
for a year, and in 1952 appointed him Director of Catholic Education for the archdiocese,. In 1958, Gleeson received Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
, becoming a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(CMG). Cited for the award was his work with young people, both as Director of Catholic Education and through his participation with organisations dealing with the education and welfare of students.
Episcopacy
After suffering a period of bad health, in November 1956 Matthew Beovich requested that he receive an auxiliary archbishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
. Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
appointed Gleeson to the position, and he was consecrated by Beovich on 21 May 1957, becoming Adelaide's first South Australian ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
. To Gleeson, Beovich delegated responsibility for Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
movements and Catholic radio and television, and he eventually came to chair a number of diocesan committees and councils. The Archbishop also tasked him with the ordination of new priests and parish visitation. However, the most important parts of the diocesian administration, such as financial and policy matters, remained under Beovich's control.
In July 1964, Gleeson was appointed coadjutor archbishop, in effect naming him as Beovich's successor. Beovich retired on 1 May 1971, making Gleeson the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.
On 20 March 2000, Archbishop Gleeson died as the result of a heart attack. His funeral was held at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. The Catholic school Gleeson College
Gleeson College
Gleeson College is a Catholic school secondary school in Golden Grove, South Australia in the northern eastern suburbs of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia...
is named in his honour.