Louis James O'Leary
Encyclopedia
Louis James O'Leary was the sixth Bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
, (which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island
) who also happened to be the older brother of his predecessor, Bishop Henry Joseph O'Leary
.
Born in Richibucto, New Brunswick
, the son of Henry O'Leary
and Mary O'Leary, O'Leary received his higher education from St. Joseph's College in Memramcook before going on to study at the Grand Seminary in Montreal
. He later travelled to Rome
, where he was ordained a priest
in 1900 for the Diocese of Chatham in New Brunswick. He later received doctorates in Theology
and Canon Law
while in Rome.
After serving as auxiliary bishop in Chatham since 1914, O'Leary was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown on September 10, 1920, succeeding his younger brother who had been appointed as Archbishop
for the Archdiocese of Edmonton
.
During his tenure as Bishop, O'Leary continued to focus on projects that had flourished under his brother. St. Dunstan's College was now a university since 1917 and during the 1920s modifications were made to the campus. Also, the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island continued to grow and officially became a congregation in 1923. The Sisters took over the tasks of managing the Charlottetown Hospital and St. Vincent's Orphanage after the Grey Nuns of Quebec returned to their native province after 46 years of service on Prince Edward Island
.
In 1929, the Diocese of Charlottetown celebrated its 100th anniversary, as well as the founding of the Holy Redeemer Parish in Charlottetown
. Also that year, St. Dunstan's Cathedral
was elevated to the dignity of a basilica
.
Throughout his tenure, Bishop O'Leary never enjoyed great health, spending a great amount of time at the Charlottetown Hospital and hospitals further away, including in Montreal. Following his release from hospital in 1929, the Bishop went for a period of rest at his brother's home in Dayton, Ohio
. It is there that he died in 1930. His funeral mass was held at St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown and was presided over by the late Bishop's brother, Archbishop Henry O'Leary of Edmonton. Bishop Louis O'Leary was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Charlottetown.
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...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown is a Roman Catholic diocese which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is currently led by Bishop Richard John Grecco...
, (which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
) who also happened to be the older brother of his predecessor, Bishop Henry Joseph O'Leary
Henry Joseph O'Leary
Henry Joseph O'Leary was the fifth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, and later became the third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Edmonton....
.
Born in Richibucto, New Brunswick
Richibucto, New Brunswick
Richibucto is a Canadian town in Kent County, New Brunswick.The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberland Strait. The town takes its name from a Mi'kmaq term meaning "river of fire"....
, the son of Henry O'Leary
Henry O'Leary
Henry O'Leary was an Irish-born businessman and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Kent County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1873 to 1878....
and Mary O'Leary, O'Leary received his higher education from St. Joseph's College in Memramcook before going on to study at the Grand Seminary in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He later travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1900 for the Diocese of Chatham in New Brunswick. He later received doctorates in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
while in Rome.
After serving as auxiliary bishop in Chatham since 1914, O'Leary was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown on September 10, 1920, succeeding his younger brother who had been appointed as Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
for the Archdiocese of Edmonton
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Province of Alberta. Its suffragan dioceses are Calgary and Saint Paul. Historically, the archdiocese was preceded by the Diocese of St Albert which was erected in 1871. In 1912 the present archdiocese was erected...
.
During his tenure as Bishop, O'Leary continued to focus on projects that had flourished under his brother. St. Dunstan's College was now a university since 1917 and during the 1920s modifications were made to the campus. Also, the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island continued to grow and officially became a congregation in 1923. The Sisters took over the tasks of managing the Charlottetown Hospital and St. Vincent's Orphanage after the Grey Nuns of Quebec returned to their native province after 46 years of service on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
In 1929, the Diocese of Charlottetown celebrated its 100th anniversary, as well as the founding of the Holy Redeemer Parish in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
. Also that year, St. Dunstan's Cathedral
St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named for St. Dunstan the great Anglo Saxon saint from Glastonbury...
was elevated to the dignity of a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
.
Throughout his tenure, Bishop O'Leary never enjoyed great health, spending a great amount of time at the Charlottetown Hospital and hospitals further away, including in Montreal. Following his release from hospital in 1929, the Bishop went for a period of rest at his brother's home in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. It is there that he died in 1930. His funeral mass was held at St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown and was presided over by the late Bishop's brother, Archbishop Henry O'Leary of Edmonton. Bishop Louis O'Leary was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Charlottetown.
External links
- http://www.dioceseofcharlottetown.com/175th_docs/175th.html#louisoleary
- http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bolearyl.html