Joseph Byrne (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Partick Byrne DD
{18 June 1843 in Dublin, Ireland
12 January 1901 in New South Wales
), an Australian suffragan bishop
, was the second Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst
, New South Wales. Reverend Byrne was consecrated by Bishop James Murray in 1885 and served until his death in 1901.
during the latter's absence in Europe from 1869 to 1873. Returning to Bathurst in 1873, Byrne was instrumental in the establishment of Australia's first seminary
in Bathurst, named in honour of St Charles Borromeo and in the formative years of St Stanislaus' College
where he also served as President, from 1867 until 1885.
, Coonamble
and Stuart Town
, and a convent at Wellington
. In 1883 the Brigidine Sisters
and in 1886 the Patrician Brothers
provided a boost to teaching in the diocese. Byrne also established the St Vincent de Paul Society and in 1888 invited the Vincentian Fathers to take over St Stanislaus' College and St Charles' Seminary; the latter which was closed in 1896 after St Patrick's Seminary
in Manly was opened in 1889.
In 1875, Byrne sent Father John Dunne to Dubbo
as parish priest and over a period of ten years helped him establish a brick church and the Convent of Mercy, which had day and boarding schools, before recalling him to Bathurst to administer the cathedral parish, supervising the construction of a Patrician Brothers' monastery and enlargement of the cathedral. Dunne eventually served as vicar-general from 1900, a role that Byrne had served under Quinn's direction.
Byrne followed a similar pattern of rejecting the independence of the Josephite community, formed by Father Julian Tenison-Woods in conjunction with Mary MacKillop
. Byrne barred Woods from exercising any further influence; destroying letters and records, and demoting him to the rank of episcopal
confrère. Byrne favoured one of Tenison-Woods' graduates, a young geologist, John Milne Curran, who was ordained a priest in 1885. Byrne granted Curran permission to accept appointment as lecturer in geology and mineralogy at the Sydney Technical College
and later as government geologist, before returning to Bathurst to edit the Catholic newspaper, The Record. Byrne also facilitated the establishment of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
which was formed out of the Bathurst diocese.
Byrne died of cancer, whilst serving in office as Catholic Bishop of Bathurst.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
{18 June 1843 in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
12 January 1901 in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
), an Australian suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
, was the second Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst is a Latin rite suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1865, covering the Central West and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia...
, New South Wales. Reverend Byrne was consecrated by Bishop James Murray in 1885 and served until his death in 1901.
Early years and background
Born in Dublin, Ireland to Patrick Byrne, and his wife, Maria, Byrne was educated in Dublin at St Lawrence O'Toole College and Rouen Seminary where he was ordained a priest in 1865. Whilst at St Lawrence O'Toole College, he met Matthew Quinn. When Quinn was consecreted as the inaugral Catholic Bishop of Bathurst, Byrne volunteered to accompany Quinn to Australia aboard the Empress. Initially working as a priest in the Diocese of Bathurst, Byrne deputised in Murray's Diocese of MaitlandRoman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1847, initially as the Diocese of Maitland, and then changed to the current name in 1995...
during the latter's absence in Europe from 1869 to 1873. Returning to Bathurst in 1873, Byrne was instrumental in the establishment of Australia's first 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 Bathurst, named in honour of St Charles Borromeo and in the formative years of St Stanislaus' College
St Stanislaus College (Bathurst)
St Stanislaus' College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, conducted by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul's priests and brothers...
where he also served as President, from 1867 until 1885.
Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst
Modelled in the style of Quinn, his predecessor, Byrne built on the established foundations by adding churches in GulgongGulgong, New South Wales
Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
, Coonamble
Coonamble, New South Wales
Coonamble is a town on the central-western plains of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Castlereagh Highway north-west of Gilgandra. At the 2006 census, Coonamble had a population of 2,549...
and Stuart Town
Stuart Town, New South Wales
Stuart Town, formerly known as Ironbark, is a small town on the Central Western Slopes of New South Wales, Australia in Wellington Council. It is located north-west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Stuart Town had a population of 104....
, and a convent at Wellington
Wellington, New South Wales
Wellington is a town in inland New South Wales, Australia located at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers. The town is the administrative centre of the Wellington Shire Local Government Area. The town is 362 kilometres from Sydney on the Great Western Highway and Mitchell Highway...
. In 1883 the Brigidine Sisters
Brigidine Sisters
The Brigidine Sisters are a global Roman Catholic congregation, founded by Bishop Daniel Delany in Ireland on February 1, 1807...
and in 1886 the Patrician Brothers
Patrician Brothers
The Patrician Brothers, or Brothers of Saint Patrick, are a Roman Catholic congregation for the religious and literary education of youth and the instruction of the faithful in Christian piety.-History:This Brotherhood was founded by the Right Rev. Dr...
provided a boost to teaching in the diocese. Byrne also established the St Vincent de Paul Society and in 1888 invited the Vincentian Fathers to take over St Stanislaus' College and St Charles' Seminary; the latter which was closed in 1896 after St Patrick's Seminary
St Patrick's Seminary, Manly
St Patrick's Seminary, Manly was the leading seminary of the Australian Catholic Church from its foundation in 1889 to its closure in 1995.Conceived by Archbishop Vaughan, it was built from 1885 in Perpendicular Gothic style by Sheerin and Hennessy on a spectacular site overlooking the Pacific...
in Manly was opened in 1889.
In 1875, Byrne sent Father John Dunne to Dubbo
Dubbo, New South Wales
Dubbo is a city in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre in the Orana region, with an estimated population of 38,037 and serves an estimated catchment of 130,000....
as parish priest and over a period of ten years helped him establish a brick church and the Convent of Mercy, which had day and boarding schools, before recalling him to Bathurst to administer the cathedral parish, supervising the construction of a Patrician Brothers' monastery and enlargement of the cathedral. Dunne eventually served as vicar-general from 1900, a role that Byrne had served under Quinn's direction.
Byrne followed a similar pattern of rejecting the independence of the Josephite community, formed by Father Julian Tenison-Woods in conjunction with Mary MacKillop
Mary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
. Byrne barred Woods from exercising any further influence; destroying letters and records, and demoting him to the rank of episcopal
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
confrère. Byrne favoured one of Tenison-Woods' graduates, a young geologist, John Milne Curran, who was ordained a priest in 1885. Byrne granted Curran permission to accept appointment as lecturer in geology and mineralogy at the Sydney Technical College
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
and later as government geologist, before returning to Bathurst to edit the Catholic newspaper, The Record. Byrne also facilitated the establishment of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1887, initially as the Diocese of Diocese of Wilcannia, and then changed to the current name in 1917...
which was formed out of the Bathurst diocese.
Byrne died of cancer, whilst serving in office as Catholic Bishop of Bathurst.