Patrick Thomas O'Reilly
Encyclopedia
Patrick Thomas O'Reilly was the first Roman Catholic
Bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts
(1870-1892).
O'Reilly was born in Cavan
, Ireland
. He came to Boston in his boyhood. He studied classics
at St. Charles's College
, Maryland
, theology
at St. Mary's Seminary
, Baltimore, and was ordained
in Boston, 15 August, 1857, by Bishop Bacon
of Portland
. He served as assistant
to Father Boyce at St. John's Church
, Worcester
, till 1862, when he was sent to organize the parish
of St. Joseph's
, Boston. In 1864 he returned to Worcester as pastor
of St. John's. There he remained until he was appointed Bishop of Springfield
(28 June, 1870), being consecrated
25 September of the same year. He ruled the Diocese of Springfield
for twenty-one years and a half. During this time its population increased from 90,000 to 200,000; its priests from 43 to 196; its religious women
from 12 to 321; its parishes from 43 to 96; its schools
from 2 to 30. Bishop O'Reilly confirmed
77,000 persons. He dedicated 45 churches, and laid the cornerstone
s of nearly a hundred buildings consecrated either to religion or to education. He gave encouragement to works of charity. The hospital
of the Sisters of Providence
of Holyoke
and the orphan asylums
at Holyoke and at Worcester were begun during his administration.
----
This article incorporates text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
article "Springfield" by Thomas Cummings, a publication now in the public domain
.
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 Springfield in Massachusetts
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden in the state of Massachusetts. It is led by...
(1870-1892).
O'Reilly was born in Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
, 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...
. He came to Boston in his boyhood. He studied classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at St. Charles's College
St. Charles College, Maryland
St. Charles College was a seminary college in Catonsville, Maryland, originally from Ellicott City, Maryland.- 1776:Charles Carroll of Carrollton signs the Declaration of Independence for Maryland. One of the wealthiest men in the Americas, Carroll staked his fortune on the American Revolution...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, 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...
at St. Mary's Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
, Baltimore, and 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....
in Boston, 15 August, 1857, by Bishop Bacon
David William Bacon
David William Bacon was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Portland, Maine. Bacon was born in New York City. He majored in classical studies at the Sulpician College at Montreal and studied theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He was ordained a priest in Baltimore,...
of Portland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the entire state of Maine...
. He served as assistant
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
to Father Boyce at St. John's Church
St. John's Catholic Church (Worcester, Massachusetts)
St. John's Catholic Church, established in 1834, is an historic Roman Catholic parish church in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the oldest established Catholic religious institution in the city, and the oldest Catholic parish in New England outside of Boston...
, Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, till 1862, when he was sent to organize the parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
of St. Joseph's
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Boston, Massachusetts)
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church serving Beacon Hill and the West End in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by Alexander Parris and built in 1834 for the Twelfth Congregational Society, it was purchased by the Boston Roman Catholic Diocese in 1862.-References:*...
, Boston. In 1864 he returned to Worcester as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. John's. There he remained until he was appointed Bishop of Springfield
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden in the state of Massachusetts. It is led by...
(28 June, 1870), being consecrated
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...
25 September of the same year. He ruled the Diocese of Springfield
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden in the state of Massachusetts. It is led by...
for twenty-one years and a half. During this time its population increased from 90,000 to 200,000; its priests from 43 to 196; its religious women
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
from 12 to 321; its parishes from 43 to 96; its schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
from 2 to 30. Bishop O'Reilly confirmed
Confirmation (Catholic Church)
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics pass in the process of their religious upbringing. According to Catholic doctrine, in this sacrament they receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church....
77,000 persons. He dedicated 45 churches, and laid the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
s of nearly a hundred buildings consecrated either to religion or to education. He gave encouragement to works of charity. The hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
of the Sisters of Providence
Sisters of Providence of Holyoke
The Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, Massachusetts, are a congregation of Roman Catholic religious sisters. In November 1873, four Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul from Kingston, Ontario, went to Holyoke to care for the sick poor...
of Holyoke
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
and the orphan asylums
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
at Holyoke and at Worcester were begun during his administration.
----
This article incorporates text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
article "Springfield" by Thomas Cummings, a publication now in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.