Andrew Killian
Encyclopedia
Andrew Killian was an Australian clergyman and the fourth Archbishop
of Adelaide
. Born and ordained in Ireland
, Killian moved to Australia where he became Bishop of Port Augusta before succeeding Robert Spence
as Archbishop of Adelaide.
. Son of Nicholas Killian and his wife Eliza Josephine, née Ryan, Killian was educated at Mungret College
, Limerick and St Patrick's College, Carlow
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the Royal University of Ireland
in 1894, and was ordained a Catholic priest
on 4 June 1898.
In late 1898, Killian came to Australia
where his first appointment was as an assistant priest in Bourke, New South Wales
. In 1907, he was transferred to Broken Hill where he demonstrated abilities as a parish administrator, clearing the debt of the parish, overseeing the construction of a school and eventually becoming Vicar General
of the diocese. Killian was made a domestic prelate (monsignor) in 1919, and in 1924 was consecrated as bishop of Port Augusta,The Diocese of Port Augusta became the Diocese of Port Pirie in 1951. a position he held until 1933. During his time as Bishop of Port Augusta, Killian would travel over large distances to visit the scattered parishes of the rural diocese.
where he assisted the ailing Robert Spence
, and after Spence died on 5 November 1934, Killian became Archbishop of Adelaide.
Killian's tenure as Archbishop saw Adelaide host the National Catholic Education Congress in 1936, in part as a contribution to the celebrations of the South Australian colony's centenary. While Bishop of Port Augusta, Killian had attended Catholic conferences in Chicago and Dublin, and endeavoured to use the Congress to project South Australian Catholic enthusiasm and make a case for increased public funding of Catholic education. The event took place over one week in November 1936 and hosted bishops and archbishops from Australia and New Zealand, as well as the apostolic delegate to Australia Giovanni Panico
. Leading Catholic educators presented papers, and the Congress concluded with a procession of 100,000 people along King William Street
. When reflecting on his time as Archbishop, Killian listed the conference as one of his proudest achievements, along with the re-opening of Mary MacKillop
's school and convent in Penola.
In the last year of his life, Killian suffered from cancer
, and on 28 June 1939 he died while undergoing surgery in Mercy Hospital, Melbourne
. He was succeeded by Matthew Beovich, who was consecrated as Archbishop in early 1940.
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...
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....
. Born and ordained in 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...
, Killian moved to Australia where he became Bishop of Port Augusta before succeeding Robert Spence
Robert Spence (bishop)
Robert William Spence was an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, and the third Archbishop of Adelaide. Born in Ireland, Spence became a Dominican priest, and after serving as a prior in Kilkenny, moved to Adelaide, Australia in 1898...
as Archbishop of Adelaide.
Early life
Andrew Killian was born on 26 October 1872 in Edenderry, IrelandEdenderry, County Offaly
Edenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
. Son of Nicholas Killian and his wife Eliza Josephine, née Ryan, Killian was educated at Mungret College
Mungret College
Mungret College, situated west of Limerick, Ireland, near the village of Mungret, was a Jesuit apostolic school and a lay secondary school from 1882 until 1974 when it closed as a school for the last time. The college produced over 1000 priests in that period...
, Limerick and St Patrick's College, Carlow
St. Patrick's, Carlow College
St Patrick's, Carlow College, founded in 1782 by Dr James Keefe, then Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and his co-adjutor Bishop Daniel Delany, and opened in 1793, is a college in Carlow, Ireland. Initially he attempted to open a seminary in Tullow, but instead took out a 999 year...
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the Royal University of Ireland
Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...
in 1894, and was ordained a Catholic priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 4 June 1898.
In late 1898, Killian came to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where his first appointment was as an assistant priest in Bourke, New South Wales
Bourke, New South Wales
-Transportation:Bourke can be reached by the Mitchell Highway, with additional sealed roads from town to the north , east and south . The town is also served by Bourke Airport and has Countrylink bus service to other regional centres, like Dubbo...
. In 1907, he was transferred to Broken Hill where he demonstrated abilities as a parish administrator, clearing the debt of the parish, overseeing the construction of a school and eventually becoming Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the diocese. Killian was made a domestic prelate (monsignor) in 1919, and in 1924 was consecrated as bishop of Port Augusta,The Diocese of Port Augusta became the Diocese of Port Pirie in 1951. a position he held until 1933. During his time as Bishop of Port Augusta, Killian would travel over large distances to visit the scattered parishes of the rural diocese.
Archbishop of Adelaide
In July 1933, Killian was appointed as coadjutor archbishop of AdelaideRoman 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....
where he assisted the ailing Robert Spence
Robert Spence (bishop)
Robert William Spence was an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, and the third Archbishop of Adelaide. Born in Ireland, Spence became a Dominican priest, and after serving as a prior in Kilkenny, moved to Adelaide, Australia in 1898...
, and after Spence died on 5 November 1934, Killian became Archbishop of Adelaide.
Killian's tenure as Archbishop saw Adelaide host the National Catholic Education Congress in 1936, in part as a contribution to the celebrations of the South Australian colony's centenary. While Bishop of Port Augusta, Killian had attended Catholic conferences in Chicago and Dublin, and endeavoured to use the Congress to project South Australian Catholic enthusiasm and make a case for increased public funding of Catholic education. The event took place over one week in November 1936 and hosted bishops and archbishops from Australia and New Zealand, as well as the apostolic delegate to Australia Giovanni Panico
Giovanni Panico
Giovanni Panico was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Nuncio to Portugal from 1959 to 1962, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1962.-Biography:...
. Leading Catholic educators presented papers, and the Congress concluded with a procession of 100,000 people along King William Street
King William Street
King William Street may refer to:*King William Street, Adelaide - the central boulevard of Adelaide*King William Street - a street in Central Hamilton*King William Street - a street in London...
. When reflecting on his time as Archbishop, Killian listed the conference as one of his proudest achievements, along with the re-opening of Mary MacKillop
Mary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
's school and convent in Penola.
In the last year of his life, Killian suffered from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and on 28 June 1939 he died while undergoing surgery in Mercy Hospital, Melbourne
St Vincents & Mercy Private Hospital
St Vincents & Mercy Private is a hospital in Victoria of Australia, which is located across three campuses in the Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy, East Melbourne and Kew. The private hospital is jointly owned by the catholic Sisters of Charity and the Sisters of Mercy, as a result of a joint venture...
. He was succeeded by Matthew Beovich, who was consecrated as Archbishop in early 1940.
External links
- Killian, Andrew at the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition.