Patrick MacAlister
Encyclopedia
Patrick MacAlister was an Irish
Roman Catholic Prelate
and 24th Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.
He studied in the Diocesan College
and then entered the Logic Class in the College of Maynooth
, August 27, 1848. He was ordained in Clarendon St. Chapel, Dublin, by Dr Whelan, Bishop of Bombay on September 18, 1852 and was given his first appointed Curate of Ballymena, November 18, 1852. He was sent on a temporary mission, as locum tenens to Glenravel, while Father Conner was engaged in building St Patrick's Church in the Braid, where he officiated from December 1853, until March 1854. He returned to Ballymena and, after a few months, was appointed Curate of the Lower Ards, April 1854.
He was appointed Curate of Ahoghill in October 1856, but sent to take charge of Ballymoney until Father McErlain, the recently appointed Parish Priest of that parish, could go from the Diocesan College to it, which did not occur until March 10, 1857. He was then was curate of Ahoghill until May 1858, when he was appointed Administrator of Holywood and Ballymacarrett, while Father Killen, the Parish Priest, was administering the parish of Belfast for Dr Denvir. Father McAlister caught scarlatina in Holywood when discharging his duties and was sometime off the mission through sickness. He afterwards officiated two months in Saul, three months in Ballymena and four months in Glenravel; after which be was re-appointed to the curacy of Holywood and Barlymacarret; from that mission he was appointed Parish Priest of Ramoan, September 2, 1862.
At the time that His Lordship
Dr Patrick Dorrian
, Bishop of Down and Connor, was present at the Vatican Council
, the Rev. Jeremiah R. McAulay, CC., Cushendall, who had drawn and made a present of the plans being delegated to this function, at the request of the Father Patrick McAlister, P.P., blessed and laid this foundation stone of the Church of St Patrick and Brigid at Ballycastle
, in presence of a large crowd of people, who. together with some priests, had assembled in honour of the occasion on the Tuesday after Pentecost
, June 7, 1870.
Dorrian
died at the Episcopal Palace, Chichester Park, Belfast, November 3, 1885, at 7 a.m.; his remains were interred within the chancel of St.Patrick's, Belfast, on Friday November 6.
At a meeting of the parish priests held in the chapel of the Diocesan College
, November 6, 1885, immediately after the funeral of Dorrian, and McAlister was elected Vicar Capitular
of Down and Connor. In was then customary that the Chapter
of the vacant See
elected three persons, styled respectively Dignus, Dignior and Dignissimus who, after approval of the Bishops of the province where sent to the Pope
, whose selection almost always fell on the Dignissimus. On November 26, 1885, the parish priests assembled in Diocesan College
under the presidency of the Primate
elected Alexander McMullan, P.P, Duneane, by 8 votes as Dignus, John McErlaine, P.P.., Ballymoney, by 9 votes as Dignior, and Patrick McAlister by 24 votes as Dignissimus for selection by the Pope for the vacant bishopric. Also there were two votes for Richard Marner, D.D., P.P., Kilkeel, 2 votes for Dr Henry Henry
, President of the Diocesan College, and 1 vote for the Michael Logue, Bishop of Raphoe
.
When Dr. McAlister, on the 9th of July, 1886, made his first episcopal visitation of the parish of Ramoan, a deputation of the parishioners waited on him at the Parochial House for the purpose of reading to him an address and presenting him with a pectoral Cross and Chain. The following is a copy of the address : -
"My Lord, - It is with sentiments of the deepest filial affection that we, your own beloved parishioners, desire to bid your lordship a hearty welcome to-day, and to express our thanks that Almighty God, although depriving us of a loving pastor, has been pleased to place the mitre of this illustrious diocese on the head of one so learned so patriotic, and so holy".
"My Lord, your life for the past 23 years has been entirely devoted to our service, you have raised in our midst a magnificent Church, of which we are justly proud, and which, together with the Parochial House and Schools, you have given us, shall long remain a monument of your energy and zeal. But your Lordship's efforts to promote the glory of God did not rest here you also endeavoured constantly and earnestly, both by word and example, to instil into our hearts a great love for God, and an undying devotion to our holy Faith".
"My Lord, we had vainly hoped that after giving the brightest days of your life to us, those which yet remain might have been ours as well. But the hand of God has raised you to a more exalted position and we sincerely pray that He may grant you long years of health and happiness to rule your faithful people".
"We beg you will he pleased to accept, as a slight token of our deep love for you, the accompanying Pectoral Cross and Chain, and that you will ever regard us as your own especial care, and Ballycastle as your home".
His Lordship, in the course of his reply, said -
"My dear friends, it is with feelings of deep emotion that I receive the address of welcome and the present which your generosity has offered me to-day. For both I beg to tender to you, and through you, to the people of this parish, my most sincere and cordial thanks. It is true I have spent the last twenty three years of my life amongst you. It was a great happiness to me to work for a people, who always showed a ready willingness to co-operate in the promotion of every good work which I undertook. To this spirit of generous co-operation is mainly due the success of those works. I had fondly hoped, that where I had lived so long and so happily I would have been permitted to end my days. The disappointment of that hope has, I assure you, my dear friends, caused me more genuine grief than any occurrence of my life, and that grief is increased by the reflection that I did so little for the Parish or Ramoan. The gift which you have presented to me I -esteem very highly on account of its intrinsic value and artistic beauty; but much more because it is the gift of the people, whose esteem I value most, and whose welfare beyond that of all ,others shall ever be dear to me. When I wear this chain and cross at the Holy Altar I will not forget you - the donors. I will commend you to the prayers of Saint Patrick and Brigid, and ask those Holy Patrons of our parish and our country to obtain for you the grace to be always true to faith and fatherland To-day I wish to bring back to your recollection, that when I undertook to build your church and its altar, the primary object I had in view was to erect a becoming sanctuary, where our Divine Saviour, in the Sacrament of His love, might deign to dwell in your midst, and to bless you. And, as in my present position, I need much the aid of your holy prayers, I ask you, my dear friends, when you pay your visits to our Lord on the altar, to commend me to the mercy of His Sacred Heart".
The chain and cross, which were manufactured to the order and special design of Messrs Campbell & Company, Jewellers, Belfast, are exquisitely finished. On the centre of the cross, which is Celtic in form, are enamelled the arms of Down and Connor, while on the right and left arms are engravings of Saints Patrick and Brigid, the patrons of the parish of Ramoan. On the circle of the cross is the motto "in hoc signo vinces" and on the back the following inscription,"This Pectoral Cross and Chain The gift of his parishioners to the Right Rev,. Patrick McAlister, on the occasion of his Episcopal Consecration, March 28th, 1886".
He died on March 26, 1895
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...
Roman Catholic Prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
and 24th Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.
Career
MacAlister was born in Bonecastle, parish of Down, was baptized by Fr Cornelius Denvir (afterwards Lord Bishop of Down and Connor) on April 12, 1826.He studied in the Diocesan College
St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the...
and then entered the Logic Class in the College of Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
, August 27, 1848. He was ordained in Clarendon St. Chapel, Dublin, by Dr Whelan, Bishop of Bombay on September 18, 1852 and was given his first appointed Curate of Ballymena, November 18, 1852. He was sent on a temporary mission, as locum tenens to Glenravel, while Father Conner was engaged in building St Patrick's Church in the Braid, where he officiated from December 1853, until March 1854. He returned to Ballymena and, after a few months, was appointed Curate of the Lower Ards, April 1854.
He was appointed Curate of Ahoghill in October 1856, but sent to take charge of Ballymoney until Father McErlain, the recently appointed Parish Priest of that parish, could go from the Diocesan College to it, which did not occur until March 10, 1857. He was then was curate of Ahoghill until May 1858, when he was appointed Administrator of Holywood and Ballymacarrett, while Father Killen, the Parish Priest, was administering the parish of Belfast for Dr Denvir. Father McAlister caught scarlatina in Holywood when discharging his duties and was sometime off the mission through sickness. He afterwards officiated two months in Saul, three months in Ballymena and four months in Glenravel; after which be was re-appointed to the curacy of Holywood and Barlymacarret; from that mission he was appointed Parish Priest of Ramoan, September 2, 1862.
At the time that His Lordship
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
Dr Patrick Dorrian
Patrick Dorrian
The Most Reverend Patrick Dorrian D.D. was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and 23rd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.-Career:Dorrian was born in Downpatrick on 29 March 1814 and was educated in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in 1833...
, Bishop of Down and Connor, was present at the Vatican Council
Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council took place in 1869 - 1870 and was the 20th of ecumenical councils recognized by Roman Catholicism.The Second Vatican Council took place in the 1962 - 1965 and was the 21st....
, the Rev. Jeremiah R. McAulay, CC., Cushendall, who had drawn and made a present of the plans being delegated to this function, at the request of the Father Patrick McAlister, P.P., blessed and laid this foundation stone of the Church of St Patrick and Brigid at Ballycastle
Ballycastle
Ballycastle can refer to:*Ballycastle, County Antrim, a small town in Northern Ireland*Ballycastle, County Mayo, a village in the Republic of Ireland...
, in presence of a large crowd of people, who. together with some priests, had assembled in honour of the occasion on the Tuesday after Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
, June 7, 1870.
Dorrian
Patrick Dorrian
The Most Reverend Patrick Dorrian D.D. was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and 23rd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.-Career:Dorrian was born in Downpatrick on 29 March 1814 and was educated in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in 1833...
died at the Episcopal Palace, Chichester Park, Belfast, November 3, 1885, at 7 a.m.; his remains were interred within the chancel of St.Patrick's, Belfast, on Friday November 6.
At a meeting of the parish priests held in the chapel of the Diocesan College
St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the...
, November 6, 1885, immediately after the funeral of Dorrian, and McAlister was elected Vicar Capitular
Vicar capitular
A diocesan administrator is a provisional ordinary of a Roman Catholic particular church. The college of consultors elects an administrator within eight days after the see is known to be vacant. The college must elect as administrator a priest or bishop at least 35 years old...
of Down and Connor. In was then customary that the Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of the vacant See
Episcopal 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...
elected three persons, styled respectively Dignus, Dignior and Dignissimus who, after approval of the Bishops of the province where sent to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, whose selection almost always fell on the Dignissimus. On November 26, 1885, the parish priests assembled in Diocesan College
St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the...
under the presidency of the Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
elected Alexander McMullan, P.P, Duneane, by 8 votes as Dignus, John McErlaine, P.P.., Ballymoney, by 9 votes as Dignior, and Patrick McAlister by 24 votes as Dignissimus for selection by the Pope for the vacant bishopric. Also there were two votes for Richard Marner, D.D., P.P., Kilkeel, 2 votes for Dr Henry Henry
Henry Henry
The Most Reverend Henry Henry D.D. was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and from 1895 until 1908 he held the title Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. He was known for his energy and zeal, as well as his overt activism in local politics, founding the Belfast Catholic Association.-Career:Dr Henry was...
, President of the Diocesan College, and 1 vote for the Michael Logue, Bishop of Raphoe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
The Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
.
Bishop
His Holiness having appointed Dr. McAlister was consecrated in St. Patrick's, Belfast, on Sunday, March 28, 1886. The consecrating prelate was the Most Rev. Dr. Nulty, Bishop of Meath, who was assisted by the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Bishop of Clogher, and the Most Rev. Dr Woodlock, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the most Rev. Dr. Logue, Bishop of Raphoe. His Grace, the Primate, Dr. McGettigan, was present but on account of the state of his health did not officiate.When Dr. McAlister, on the 9th of July, 1886, made his first episcopal visitation of the parish of Ramoan, a deputation of the parishioners waited on him at the Parochial House for the purpose of reading to him an address and presenting him with a pectoral Cross and Chain. The following is a copy of the address : -
"My Lord, - It is with sentiments of the deepest filial affection that we, your own beloved parishioners, desire to bid your lordship a hearty welcome to-day, and to express our thanks that Almighty God, although depriving us of a loving pastor, has been pleased to place the mitre of this illustrious diocese on the head of one so learned so patriotic, and so holy".
"My Lord, your life for the past 23 years has been entirely devoted to our service, you have raised in our midst a magnificent Church, of which we are justly proud, and which, together with the Parochial House and Schools, you have given us, shall long remain a monument of your energy and zeal. But your Lordship's efforts to promote the glory of God did not rest here you also endeavoured constantly and earnestly, both by word and example, to instil into our hearts a great love for God, and an undying devotion to our holy Faith".
"My Lord, we had vainly hoped that after giving the brightest days of your life to us, those which yet remain might have been ours as well. But the hand of God has raised you to a more exalted position and we sincerely pray that He may grant you long years of health and happiness to rule your faithful people".
"We beg you will he pleased to accept, as a slight token of our deep love for you, the accompanying Pectoral Cross and Chain, and that you will ever regard us as your own especial care, and Ballycastle as your home".
His Lordship, in the course of his reply, said -
"My dear friends, it is with feelings of deep emotion that I receive the address of welcome and the present which your generosity has offered me to-day. For both I beg to tender to you, and through you, to the people of this parish, my most sincere and cordial thanks. It is true I have spent the last twenty three years of my life amongst you. It was a great happiness to me to work for a people, who always showed a ready willingness to co-operate in the promotion of every good work which I undertook. To this spirit of generous co-operation is mainly due the success of those works. I had fondly hoped, that where I had lived so long and so happily I would have been permitted to end my days. The disappointment of that hope has, I assure you, my dear friends, caused me more genuine grief than any occurrence of my life, and that grief is increased by the reflection that I did so little for the Parish or Ramoan. The gift which you have presented to me I -esteem very highly on account of its intrinsic value and artistic beauty; but much more because it is the gift of the people, whose esteem I value most, and whose welfare beyond that of all ,others shall ever be dear to me. When I wear this chain and cross at the Holy Altar I will not forget you - the donors. I will commend you to the prayers of Saint Patrick and Brigid, and ask those Holy Patrons of our parish and our country to obtain for you the grace to be always true to faith and fatherland To-day I wish to bring back to your recollection, that when I undertook to build your church and its altar, the primary object I had in view was to erect a becoming sanctuary, where our Divine Saviour, in the Sacrament of His love, might deign to dwell in your midst, and to bless you. And, as in my present position, I need much the aid of your holy prayers, I ask you, my dear friends, when you pay your visits to our Lord on the altar, to commend me to the mercy of His Sacred Heart".
The chain and cross, which were manufactured to the order and special design of Messrs Campbell & Company, Jewellers, Belfast, are exquisitely finished. On the centre of the cross, which is Celtic in form, are enamelled the arms of Down and Connor, while on the right and left arms are engravings of Saints Patrick and Brigid, the patrons of the parish of Ramoan. On the circle of the cross is the motto "in hoc signo vinces" and on the back the following inscription,"This Pectoral Cross and Chain The gift of his parishioners to the Right Rev,. Patrick McAlister, on the occasion of his Episcopal Consecration, March 28th, 1886".
He died on March 26, 1895