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Monsignor Edmund Mulcahy

Title:

Monsignor

First Name:

Edmund

Middle Names:

Alphonsus

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Mulcahy

Order:

Date of Birth:

1867

Place of Birth:

Co Waterford

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

1890

Place of Ordination:

Waterford

Country of Ordination:

Ireland

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

16-Jul-1937

Place of Death:

Georgetown SA

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

17-Jul-1937

Place of Burial:

Georgetown SA

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197253296

Appointments Table

Diocese
Place
Role
Start Day
Start Month
Start Year
End Day
End Month
End Year
Source
Port Pirie Peterborough18901894Southern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
Port Pirie PekinaSouthern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
Port Pirie Port PirieSouthern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
Port Pirie Hawker1898Southern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
Port Pirie CarrietonSouthern Cross, 23 July 1937
Port Pirie GeorgetownParish Priest1908Jul1937Southern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
Port Pirie GeorgetownVicar General19301936Southern Cross, 23 July 1937; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants
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Biographical Notes

Port Pirie Items. Farewell Social to the Rev. Father Mulcahy, Petersburg Times, 16 February 1904, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109479191:

A farewell social to the Rev. Father Mulcahy, who, after four years' residence at Port Pirie, has been appointed by Bishop Mahar to the charge of the Carrieton parish, took place at the Institute Supper Room on Wednesday evening. The Rev. Father O'Connor presided over a large attendance, and, on behalf of the congregation of St. Mark's Church, presented Father Mulcahy with a purse of sovereigns, and in making the presentation referred in highly appreciative terms to the good work done by the guest of the evening during his residence in Port Pirie, and expressed regret at the departure of Father Mulcahy, between whom and himself had always existed the most cordial relations. An address was presented and read by Mr. W. K. Gallagher as follows:—

[...]

Father Mulcahy—whose place here is being taken by the Rev. Father Cleary, of Pekina—left for Carrieton on Thursday.

---

Death of Monsignor Mulcahy, The News, Adelaide, 16 July 1937, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130970103:

Georgetown, Friday.—The Right Rev. Monsignor E. A. Mulcahy, parish priest at Georgetown for 30 years, died today. He was 74.

Born in County Waterford, Ireland, he was educated at St. John's College, Waterford, and was a contemporary of Archbishop Sheehan. He arrived in South Australia in 1889, and was stationed at Peterborough, Pekina, Hawker, and Carrieton.

He was vicar-general under Bishop Norton and Bishop Killian, but had to resign the office because of ill-health. After Bishop Norton's death he was appointed vicar-capitular. Last year he was appointed a domestic prelate by the Pope.

He will be buried at Georgetown tomorrow.

---

The Late Right Rev. Monsignor Mulcahy, Georgetown. Port Augusta Diocese Mourns Death of Pioneer Priest. Dr. Killian's Tribute at Obsequies, The Southern Cross, Adelaide, 23 July 1937, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167702534:

After many months of a tedious illness, borne with fortitude and patience, Right Rev. Monsignor Edmund A. Mulcahy, Parish Priest of Georgetown, and formerly Vicar-General of the Diocese of Port Augusta, passed to his eternal reward at Georgetown on Friday last, 16th instant.

Solemn Office and Pontifical Requiem were celebrated on Saturday, 17th instant., at Georgetown, for the repose of the soul of one of the most revered Priests in the Diocese of Port Augusta, who had almost completed half a century of missionary labors in the Northern areas.

His Grace the Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney, Most Rev. Dr. Gilroy, Peterborough, celebrated the Requiem Mass in the presence of the Archbishop of Adelaide, Most Rev. Dr. Killian, the Auxiliary Bishop-Elect of Wagga, Right Rev. Dr. Henschke, the clergy of the Diocese, Sisters of St. Joseph, and a large congregation of parishioners and people from all parts of the Diocese.

General regret was felt throughout the State when it was learned that Mgr. Mulcahy had answered the last call of the Master Whom he had served with conspicuous fidelity in all the years of his long life in the Northern Diocese. His great Priestly work, his intense interest in all matters that had to do with the welfare of his people, his wise counsel, and, above all, his high appreciation of the sacerdotal office, had gained for him the affection as well as the esteem and veneration of all with whom he came in contact. It was in that sentiment of respect and affection that he came to be known as the Grand Old Man of the North, and though a series of indispositions had severely curtailed his activities of recent years, he had, almost to the end, maintained his place as counsellor and guide to the members of the flock over which he watched at Georgetown for thirty years.

Born in Ireland 74 years ago, he was ordained at St. John's College, Waterford, on Trinity Sunday, 1890. He was one of the first Priests ordained for the Diocese of Port Augusta, which was established in 1887, and he continued his labors during the reigns of five Bishops in the See. He was Vicar-General for many years, and held the office of Vicar Capitular when the diocese was without a Bishop, and his administration in these and other offices entrusted to him was marked by a singular prudence in the conduct of affairs, a keen and penetrating vision, and deep knowledge of human nature, and a charity that was all embracing.

The late Monsignor Mulcahy had an ardent devotion to the Blessed Mother of God, and he was granted the happiness of dying on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Throughout his last illness he was attended by the devotion and Priestly ministrations of Rev. Father P. Molloy, Georgetown, and by the skill and care of his friends, Dr. John Stewart, of Gladstone; of his housekeeper, and of the Nursing Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, from Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide.

The Celebrant of the Pontifical Requiem in St. Mary's Church was His Grace the Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney, Most Rev. N. T. Gilroy; Very Rev. Dr. Prendergast was Assistant Priest; Very Rev. Father M. Clune, Deacon; Rev. Father P. Molloy, Sub-Deacon; Very Rev. Father F. Morrissey was Master of Ceremonies, and Rev. Father A. Farrell was Assistant Master of Ceremonies. Present in the Sanctuary were His Grace the Archbishop of Adelaide, Most Rev. Dr. Killian, who was attended by Very Rev. Father J. Prendergast (Port Augusta) and Very Rev. Father Forster, S.J. (Sevenhill), and His Lordship Right Rev. Dr. Henschke, Auxiliary Bishop-Elect of Wagga.

Also present were: Very Rev. J. G. O'Rourke, P.P., Port Pirie; Rev. W. Kain, P.P., Carrieton; Rev. W. Nesdale, Adm., Peterborough; Rev. T. Toal, P.P., Whyalla; Rev. M. F. Toal, Port Pirie; Rev. J. Casey, P.P., Booleroo Centre; Rev. F. Walsh, Jamestown; Rev. P. Coffey, Port Pirie; Rev. P. McKenna, Jamestown; Rev. W. Collins, Port Augusta; Rev. P. M. Horgan, P.P. (Adelaide), Rev. J. Whelan, P.P., Spalding; Rev. R. M. Redden, P.F., Manoora.

Archbishop Killian's Tribute.

At the conclusion of the Mass, His Grace the Archbishop of Adelaide ascended the pulpit and said:

"Your Grace, My Lord, Very Rev. Fathers, and dear brethren in Christ, it is my privilege, through the gracious invitation extended to me by Dr. Gilroy, to pay tribute of respect and veneration to the memory of a great Priest, around whose mortal remains we are assembled this morning. The late Mgr. Mulcahy was one of the first Priests who devoted his life to the newly formed Diocese of Port Augusta; he was actually the second Priest to be ordained for the Diocese, his senior in ordination being the late Archdeacon Doyle, of Jamestown, though both came to Australia in the same year, 1890.

"During the forty-seven years of his ministry, Mgr. Mulcahy labored in the Parishes of Peterborough, Pekina, Port Pirie, Hawker, Carrieton, and Georgetown. For thirty years he was Pastor of the Parish of Georgetown. The inheritance which he received when he was appointed as Parish Priest was a splendid Catholic community, fashioned and formed by the teaching and example of the grand pioneer missionary Fathers, the Austrian Jesuits. During the years of his pastorate at Georgetown, Mgr. Mulcahy erected as monuments of his zeal three beautiful churches, two convents, two splendid schools, and the comfortable presbytery home at Georgetown.

"The confidence placed in the late Monsignor," continued His Grace, "is evidenced in the fact that in the reigns of three Bishops of the Diocese he was Vicar-General, and during the interregnum, after Bishop Norton's death, he was Vicar Capitular. The seal of approval of the Holy See was set on his work and his life when, recently, he was elevated to the position of Domestic Prelate to the Holy Father, Pope Pius XI."

Dr. Killian went on to refer to the oustanding feature of the late Mgr. Mulcahy's work as a Priest, especially in the early days of missionary life in the back country of South Australia; it was his zeal in teaching the Catechism to the children. "When some years ago the late Mgr. Mulcahy was very ill, when it was thought that he was near the end, I reminded him," said His Grace, "of this phase of his Priestly work, and told him that, having regard to that work alone, he need have no fear of facing the judgment seat of God.

Unswerving Loyalty.

"The second outstanding feature of his life as a Priest of the Diocese of Port Augusta," continued Dr. Killian, "was his unswerving loyalty and devotion to the diocese. He came to the diocese when it was involved in very great difficulties, financial and otherwise, and when it had not achieved the position of importance it enjoys to-day amongst the dioceses of the Commonwealth. But never once, in the days of its difficulties, or in the days of its prosperity, had Mgr. Mulcahy anything but words of praise and of pride for the Port Augusta Diocese.

"In his private life he was a man of honest and rugged virtue, faithful and consistent in the observance of the great obligations of the Priestly state. But, above all else," said Dr. Killian, "he set one and all of us a splendid example of heroic endurance and patience during many long years of sickness and suffering. Up to the very last he was always prepared to 'argue the point' with callers and enquirers—a sure sign that he retained to the end his esteem and friendly interest in them. He prepared for the end calmly and bravely, and on the evening of the last day he spent on earth he received from the hands of his Assistant Priest the last Sacraments and Rites of the Church.

"It is but right and fitting that he should find his last resting-place in the little cemetery adjoining the church where rest the mortal remains of so many of his flock, whom he served faithfully and well."

Before asking the people to continue to remember in their prayers the soul of Mgr. Mulcahy, Archbishop Killian paid a graceful tribute to his housekeeper, who had so faithfully waited on the late Monsignor during all the years of his illness. His Grace concluded his address with the prayer: "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!"

---

Fr Frank Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants: Recalling the Spirit of the Deceased Priests of the Diocese of Port Augusta and Port Pirie 1888-2008, 2008:
Mulcahy, Edward [sic] Alphonsus

Born: 1867 in Co Waterford, Ireland.
Ordained: 1890 at St John's College, Waterford.
Worked in Peterborough 1890-94; Pekina? Hawker 1898; Port Pirie? Georgetown 1908.
Diocesan Consultor 1913. Vicar General 1930-36.
Died: 23/7/1937 [sic]. Buried at Georgetown.
He left a Bursary for the education of future priests.

(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)

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