Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory is a Roman Catholic diocese
in eastern Ireland
. It is one of six suffragan diocese
s in the ecclesiastical province
of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin
. The incumbent Ordinary
is Séamus Freeman
.
is bounded to the south by the River Suir
, to the east by the River Barrow
, to the north by County Laois
(formerly "Queen's County") and to the west by counties Tipperary
and Offaly
(formerly "King's County"). It has an area of 600000 acres (2,428.1 km²). At the Synod of Rathbreasail
in 1111, the limits of the diocese were permanently fixed. At the same time, the cathedra
was transferred from Seir-Kieran to Aghaboe
. At the end of the 12th century it was further transferred to Kilkenny
. It is probable that St. Canice founded a monastery at Kilkenny and not unlikely that the beginnings of a town soon appeared there, to become more important when the bishops changed from Aghaboe.
was established in AD 549 It is roughly co-extensive with the ancient Irish Kingdom of Ossory, whose first king, Aengus Osrithe, flourished in the 2nd century of the Christian
era. His successors extended their boundaries to include part of Tipperary. In the 5th century the neighbouring tribe of the Deisi
, aided by the Corcu Loígde, conquered South Ossory, and for over a century, the Corcu Loígde chiefs ruled in place of the dispossessed Ossory chiefs. Early in the 7th century the ancient chiefs recovered much of their lost possessions, the foreigners were overcome, and the descendants of Aengus ruled once more. One of the greatest was Cerball mac Dúnlainge
, prominent in the 9th century and distinguished in the Danish wars.
Ossory had been Christianized
long before this. St. Ciarán
, the patron saint
of the diocese, was born about the 4th century at a place now known as "St. Ciarán's Strand", near Cape Clear Island, and was probably converted to the Catholic faith by foreign traders. According to tradition, he travelled to Rome and was there ordained
priest and bishop. Having met St. Patrick, St. Ciarán received from him a bell with the charge to return to Ireland and there establish a monastery on the spot where the bell should first sound. When the saint had passed beyond Ossory, and was descending the western slopes of Slieve Bloom, the bell at length sounded; and here St. Ciarán established the monastery of Seir-Kieran, the centre from which Ossory was evangelized. St. Patrick also visited Ossory and preached and founded churches there. There is some difficulty in accepting the story of St. Ciarán having preached before St. Patrick, since the former is said to have flourished in the 6th century. It is, however, certain that St. Ciarán laboured in Ossory.
In the centuries following, the kingdom was ruled from Seir-Kieran by the abbot
s. They had other monasteries subject to them, and probably other bishops, and perhaps were not always bishops themselves, though at Seir-Kieran, as at Iona
, there was always a bishop. Their jurisdiction was tribal rather than territorial, and hence the diocese was enlarged or contracted as the fortunes of the Ossory chieftains rose or fell.
In the reign of Bishop Hugh de Rous (1202–15) the cathedral of St. Canice
was built. Two subsequent bishops, Hugh de Malpilton (1251–60) and Thomas Barry (1427–60), filled the office of treasurer of Ireland, while another, Richard Northalis
(1387–95), acted as King Richard II of England
's ambassador abroad.
At the English reformation
, the Earls of Ormond were among the first of the nobility to conform to the state established church. The majority of the population continued to adhere to the old faith. When John Bale
was appointed bishop by King Edward VI of England
, he endeavoured to "Protestantize" the people. He was roughly handled and driven from Kilkenny, leaving Ossory in peace. The peace ended with the death of Queen Mary I of England
. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England
, the see was vacant for seventeen years.
From 1602 to 1618 Ossory was again without a bishop. When Dr. David Rothe
was appointed (1620) there was not a Catholic bishop in all of Ireland. In the rebellion of 1641 Kilkenny was the centre of national resistance and the headquarters of the Catholic Confederation. The part played by Dr. Rothe was prominent and patriotic; but his best efforts were unavailing, for Ormond was able to foment divisions between the Anglo-Irish
and the old Irish who would not "blend" for the common good. For want of vigour in Catholic counsels, Ormonde's treachery led to Oliver Cromwell
's victories. While the Cromwellians held Kilkenny, Dr. Rothe died there (1650) and for twenty years following, Ossory was governed by vicar
s. During the few periods of toleration in the reign of Charles II Stuart
a feeble revival of religion took place. In 1678 the bishop reported to Rome, that in many cases one priest was in charge of five or six parishes; that the few remaining Franciscans, Dominicans
, Jesuits and Capuchins
ministered by stealth and in ruined churches; and that the Carmelites
, Cistercians and Canons Regular of St. Augustine had completely disappeared.
In the penal times
, Ossory suffered much, but its faith survived, and when toleration came it was ruled by an exceptional man, Thomas De Burgo
(1759–86). Equally capable was his successor, John Thomas Troy
(1777–86), subsequently Archbishop of Dublin
. To understand his praise of King George III, his friendship with the viceroy and with Luttrell
, son of Lord Carhampton, we must make allowance for the times in which he lived. He was among the first of the Irish
bishops to take advantage of the relaxation of the penal laws and set up a college for his diocese by the purchase of Burrell's Hall, Kilkenny.
In 1836 the foundation stone of St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, was laid and two years later the college was opened for students. Dr. Kinsella also laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of St. Mary
in 1843, though the exterior was not finished until 1857, nor solemnly consecrated until 1899.
The number of distinguished men connected with the diocese is large. Clyn
and Grace
, the annalists, were both of Kilkenny. Dr. Rothe was not only a public man, but an author of eminence. De Burgo's work on the Irish Dominicans is still an essential book for Irish historians. Other famous men are: James Butler
, Archbishop of Cashel
, author of 'Butler's Catechism
'; Dr. Manogue, Bishop of Sacramento
; Dr. Ireland
, Archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota
; Dr. O'Reilly, Archbishop of Adelaide
; Dr. John O'Donovan; Dr. Kelly, for many years professor of ecclesiastical history
at Maynooth
; Dr. O'Hanlon, theological professor in the same college; Dr. MacDonald, his successor; and Dr. Carrigan, whose 'History of Ossory' is the most complete history of any Irish diocese.
In 1910, the diocese contained: 41 parishes; 36 parish priests; 5 administrators; 58 curate
s; 11 regulars (a total of 119 priests); 96 churches; 1 college; 4 houses of regulars; 15 convents; 4 houses of Christian Brother
s. In 1901 the Catholic population was 83,519; the non-Catholic, 6,029.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in eastern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is one of six suffragan diocese
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
s in the ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
. The incumbent 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...
is Séamus Freeman
Séamus Freeman
Séamus Freeman, S.A.C. is the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 September 2007.-Biography:...
.
Geographic remit
The seeEpiscopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
is bounded to the south by the River Suir
River Suir
The River Suir is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of .Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout...
, to the east by the River Barrow
River Barrow
The Barrow is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest and most prominent of the three rivers...
, to the north by County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
(formerly "Queen's County") and to the west by counties Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
and Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
(formerly "King's County"). It has an area of 600000 acres (2,428.1 km²). At the Synod of Rathbreasail
Synod of Rathbreasail
The Synod of Ráth Breasail took place in Ireland in 1111. It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and parish-based church...
in 1111, the limits of the diocese were permanently fixed. At the same time, the cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
was transferred from Seir-Kieran to Aghaboe
Aghaboe
Aghaboe is a village and parish in County Laois, Ireland. It is located on the R434 regional road in the rural hinterland west of the town of Abbeyleix....
. At the end of the 12th century it was further transferred to Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. It is probable that St. Canice founded a monastery at Kilkenny and not unlikely that the beginnings of a town soon appeared there, to become more important when the bishops changed from Aghaboe.
History
The dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
was established in AD 549 It is roughly co-extensive with the ancient Irish Kingdom of Ossory, whose first king, Aengus Osrithe, flourished in the 2nd century of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
era. His successors extended their boundaries to include part of Tipperary. In the 5th century the neighbouring tribe of the Deisi
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
, aided by the Corcu Loígde, conquered South Ossory, and for over a century, the Corcu Loígde chiefs ruled in place of the dispossessed Ossory chiefs. Early in the 7th century the ancient chiefs recovered much of their lost possessions, the foreigners were overcome, and the descendants of Aengus ruled once more. One of the greatest was Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
, prominent in the 9th century and distinguished in the Danish wars.
Ossory had been Christianized
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
long before this. St. Ciarán
Ciarán of Saighir
Saint Ciarán mac Luaigne or Ciarán of Saigir was an early Irish bishop and patron saint of Ossory, who was supposed to have flourished in the second half of the 5th century. He is also referred to as Ciarán the Elder in order to distinguish him from Ciarán of Clonmacnoise...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the diocese, was born about the 4th century at a place now known as "St. Ciarán's Strand", near Cape Clear Island, and was probably converted to the Catholic faith by foreign traders. According to tradition, he travelled to Rome and was there ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
priest and bishop. Having met St. Patrick, St. Ciarán received from him a bell with the charge to return to Ireland and there establish a monastery on the spot where the bell should first sound. When the saint had passed beyond Ossory, and was descending the western slopes of Slieve Bloom, the bell at length sounded; and here St. Ciarán established the monastery of Seir-Kieran, the centre from which Ossory was evangelized. St. Patrick also visited Ossory and preached and founded churches there. There is some difficulty in accepting the story of St. Ciarán having preached before St. Patrick, since the former is said to have flourished in the 6th century. It is, however, certain that St. Ciarán laboured in Ossory.
In the centuries following, the kingdom was ruled from Seir-Kieran by the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
s. They had other monasteries subject to them, and probably other bishops, and perhaps were not always bishops themselves, though at Seir-Kieran, as at Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, there was always a bishop. Their jurisdiction was tribal rather than territorial, and hence the diocese was enlarged or contracted as the fortunes of the Ossory chieftains rose or fell.
In the reign of Bishop Hugh de Rous (1202–15) the cathedral of St. Canice
St Canice's Cathedral
St Canice's Cathedral , is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Kilkenny city, Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin....
was built. Two subsequent bishops, Hugh de Malpilton (1251–60) and Thomas Barry (1427–60), filled the office of treasurer of Ireland, while another, Richard Northalis
Richard Northalis
Richard Northalis was an Irish cleric and jurist who held the offices of Bishop of Ossory, Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland....
(1387–95), acted as King Richard II of England
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
's ambassador abroad.
At the English reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, the Earls of Ormond were among the first of the nobility to conform to the state established church. The majority of the population continued to adhere to the old faith. When John Bale
John Bale
John Bale was an English churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory. He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English , and developed and published a very extensive list of the works of British authors down to his own time, just as the monastic libraries were being...
was appointed bishop by King Edward VI of England
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, he endeavoured to "Protestantize" the people. He was roughly handled and driven from Kilkenny, leaving Ossory in peace. The peace ended with the death of Queen Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, the see was vacant for seventeen years.
From 1602 to 1618 Ossory was again without a bishop. When Dr. David Rothe
David Rothe
David Rothe was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, central Ireland.-Life:He was born at Kilkenny, of a distinguished family. Having studied at the Irish College, Douai, and at the University of Salamanca, where he graduated doctor in civil and canon law, he was ordained in 1600, and proceeded to...
was appointed (1620) there was not a Catholic bishop in all of Ireland. In the rebellion of 1641 Kilkenny was the centre of national resistance and the headquarters of the Catholic Confederation. The part played by Dr. Rothe was prominent and patriotic; but his best efforts were unavailing, for Ormond was able to foment divisions between the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
and the old Irish who would not "blend" for the common good. For want of vigour in Catholic counsels, Ormonde's treachery led to Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's victories. While the Cromwellians held Kilkenny, Dr. Rothe died there (1650) and for twenty years following, Ossory was governed by vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s. During the few periods of toleration in the reign of Charles II Stuart
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
a feeble revival of religion took place. In 1678 the bishop reported to Rome, that in many cases one priest was in charge of five or six parishes; that the few remaining Franciscans, Dominicans
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, Jesuits and Capuchins
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
ministered by stealth and in ruined churches; and that the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
, Cistercians and Canons Regular of St. Augustine had completely disappeared.
In the penal times
Penal law
In the most general sense, penal is the body of laws that are enforced by the State in its own name and impose penalties for their violation, as opposed to civil law that seeks to redress private wrongs...
, Ossory suffered much, but its faith survived, and when toleration came it was ruled by an exceptional man, Thomas De Burgo
Thomas Burke (bishop)
Thomas Burke was an Irish Dominican and Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory.-Life:...
(1759–86). Equally capable was his successor, John Thomas Troy
John Thomas Troy
John Thomas Troy was an Irish Dominican and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin....
(1777–86), subsequently Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
. To understand his praise of King George III, his friendship with the viceroy and with Luttrell
Luttrell
-People:* Christopher Luttrell , Son of Sir Thomas* Erica Luttrell, voice-over actress* Geoffrey de Luterel * Geoffrey Luttrell * Heather Luttrell, musician* Henry Luttrell, several persons* Henry Luttrell -People:* Christopher Luttrell (?-died 1556), Son of Sir Thomas* Erica Luttrell, voice-over...
, son of Lord Carhampton, we must make allowance for the times in which he lived. He was among the first of the Irish
Religion in Ireland
The island of Ireland is divided into two jurisdictions Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Religion in Ireland may refer to:* Religion in the Republic of Ireland* Religion in Northern Ireland* Christianity in Ireland...
bishops to take advantage of the relaxation of the penal laws and set up a college for his diocese by the purchase of Burrell's Hall, Kilkenny.
In 1836 the foundation stone of St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, was laid and two years later the college was opened for students. Dr. Kinsella also laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of St. Mary
St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny
St. Mary’s is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the Diocese of Ossory. It is situated on James’s Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Kilkenny also has a second cathedral, Saint Canice’s which is Church of Ireland....
in 1843, though the exterior was not finished until 1857, nor solemnly consecrated until 1899.
The number of distinguished men connected with the diocese is large. Clyn
John Clyn
John Clyn of the Friars Minor, Kilkenny, was a 14th century Irish monk and chronicler who lived at the time of the Black Death.-Background:...
and Grace
Grace
-Film:* Grace , a 2009 horror film* States of Grace, a 2005 drama film- Games :* The Game of graces, a 19th century game for young girls* Tales of Graces, a 2009 Tales of game by Namco Tales Studio- Literature :...
, the annalists, were both of Kilkenny. Dr. Rothe was not only a public man, but an author of eminence. De Burgo's work on the Irish Dominicans is still an essential book for Irish historians. Other famous men are: James Butler
James Butler
-Irish noblemen:*James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde *James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormonde *James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde *James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormonde *James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormonde...
, Archbishop of Cashel
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
, author of 'Butler's Catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
'; Dr. Manogue, Bishop of Sacramento
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States...
; Dr. Ireland
John Ireland (archbishop)
John Ireland was the third bishop and first archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota . He became both a religious as well as civic leader in Saint Paul during the turn of the century...
, Archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
; Dr. O'Reilly, 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....
; Dr. John O'Donovan; Dr. Kelly, for many years professor of ecclesiastical history
Ecclesiastical History
Ecclesiastical History or ecclesiastical history may refer to:*Ecclesiastical history *Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum by Bede*Church History , pioneer work on the Christian Church by Eusebius of Caesarea...
at Maynooth
Maynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
; Dr. O'Hanlon, theological professor in the same college; Dr. MacDonald, his successor; and Dr. Carrigan, whose 'History of Ossory' is the most complete history of any Irish diocese.
In 1910, the diocese contained: 41 parishes; 36 parish priests; 5 administrators; 58 curate
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...
s; 11 regulars (a total of 119 priests); 96 churches; 1 college; 4 houses of regulars; 15 convents; 4 houses of Christian Brother
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
s. In 1901 the Catholic population was 83,519; the non-Catholic, 6,029.
Ordinaries
The following is a basic list of the bishops of Ossory since 1829.- William Kinsella (1829–1845)
- Edward Walsh (1846–1872)
- Patrick Francis Moran (1872–1884)
- Abraham Brownrigg, S.S.S.Congregation of the Blessed SacramentThe Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic religious congregation of priests, deacons, and Brothers whose ideal of life is to become living witnesses of the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. By their life and activities, they assist the Church in her efforts to form...
(1884–1928) - Patrick Collier (1928–1964)
- Peter Birch (1964–1981)
- Laurence Forristal (1981–2007)
- Séamus FreemanSéamus FreemanSéamus Freeman, S.A.C. is the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 September 2007.-Biography:...
, S.A.C.PallottinesThe Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
(since 2007)