Thomas O'Shea (Archbishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas O'Shea, SM
(13 March 1870 — 9 May 1954) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Metropolitan of New Zealand.
He was born at San Francisco, California
on 13 March 1870, the son of Edmond O'Shea, a miner, and his wife, Johanna Sullivan, both Irish-born, who had emigrated from Charleston, New Zealand
. The family returned to New Zealand and began farming near Hawera
, Taranaki. Thomas O'Shea was a foundation boarder at St Patrick's College, Wellington from June 1885, and taught there in 1889. In 1890 he entered the Marist seminary at Meeanee; he was professed as a member of the Society of Mary
the following year and ordained on 3 December 1893. He taught philosophy at the seminary from 1894 until 1896.
After serving in various Wellington parishes, O'Shea was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Wellington
in 1907, and received the title of dean in 1912. He was consecrated as coadjutor
archbishop of Wellington on 17 August 1913. He gradually took over responsibility for the affairs of the archdiocese from the ageing Archbishop Francis Redwood
who died on 3 January 1935 and O'Shea succeeded him.
O'Shea's tenure was marked by increasing reliance on secular clergy rather than on the Marist Order
. He considerably developed Catholic education in Wellington. He had revived the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Wellington in 1906, and he promoted Catholic social-study classes throughout the archdiocese during and after the depression
. He also set up a Church Music
Commission to promote liturgical music in 1936. He hosted a National Eucharistic Congress in February 1940 as a contribution to the New Zealand national centennial
celebrations.
.
Society of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
(13 March 1870 — 9 May 1954) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Metropolitan of New Zealand.
He was born at San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on 13 March 1870, the son of Edmond O'Shea, a miner, and his wife, Johanna Sullivan, both Irish-born, who had emigrated from Charleston, New Zealand
Charleston, New Zealand
Charleston is a village in the South Island of New Zealand located 30 km south of Westport. It was founded as a goldmining town after a major goldrush in 1867, and is now an adventure tourist village noted for its extensive limestone caves and caving experiences.- History :Charleston’s origins...
. The family returned to New Zealand and began farming near Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
, Taranaki. Thomas O'Shea was a foundation boarder at St Patrick's College, Wellington from June 1885, and taught there in 1889. In 1890 he entered the Marist seminary at Meeanee; he was professed as a member of the Society of Mary
Society of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
the following year and ordained on 3 December 1893. He taught philosophy at the seminary from 1894 until 1896.
After serving in various Wellington parishes, O'Shea was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Wellington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington
The Latin Rite Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington is the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Zealand. Catholics number about 83,214 . Parishes number 47 parishes and the archdiocese extends over central New Zealand between Levin and Masterton in the north to Kaikoura to Westport in the...
in 1907, and received the title of dean in 1912. He was consecrated as coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
archbishop of Wellington on 17 August 1913. He gradually took over responsibility for the affairs of the archdiocese from the ageing Archbishop Francis Redwood
Francis Redwood
Francis William Mary Redwood SM , was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Metropolitan of New Zealand.Redwood was born on 8 April 1839 on the Tixall estate, Staffordshire, England. In 1842 he sailed to New Zealand with his parents on the George Fyfe...
who died on 3 January 1935 and O'Shea succeeded him.
O'Shea's tenure was marked by increasing reliance on secular clergy rather than on the Marist Order
Society of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
. He considerably developed Catholic education in Wellington. He had revived the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Wellington in 1906, and he promoted Catholic social-study classes throughout the archdiocese during and after the depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He also set up a Church Music
Church music
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. This article covers music in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. For sacred music outside this...
Commission to promote liturgical music in 1936. He hosted a National Eucharistic Congress in February 1940 as a contribution to the New Zealand national centennial
New Zealand Centennial Exhibition
The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition took place over six months from Wednesday 8 November 1939 until 4 May 1940. It celebrated one hundred years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and the subsequent mass European settlement of New Zealand...
celebrations.
Death
O'Shea was bedridden and suffered from senility during the final years of his life and died at Calvary Hospital, Wellington, on 9 May 1954. He was succeeded by Peter McKeefryPeter McKeefry
Peter Thomas Bertram McKeefry was the Third Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand and its first Cardinal.-Early life and education:...
.