John T. Mullock
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Mullock was Roman Catholic bishop
of St. John's
, Newfoundland
and did much to establish and develop the church in the region. Born in Limerick
, Co. Limerick, Ireland
, he died in St. John's and is buried in the crypt of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist
.
in 1825, having been educated at St. Bonaventure's College, Seville
. He went on to St. Isidore's College, Rome
, where, in 1829, he was ordained priest. After long service in Ireland
— at Ennis
, Cork
, and Dublin — he was appointed, in 1847, coadjutor with right of succession to Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming
of St. John's, Newfoundland, and was consecrated by Cardinal Fransoni on 27 December, 1847, at St. Isidore's, Rome.
, begun in 1841, was consecrated on 9 September 1855. He also opened in 1857 St Bonaventure's , a school for middle-class boys, a new episcopal palace and library, eleven convents, and numerous churches.
He took a keen interest in the commercial development of Newfoundland, and was most enthusiastic about its natural resources. He was frequently consulted by the Governor on matters relating to the welfare of the country, and many of his suggestions relating to the fisheries and other matters were adopted. Before leaving Ireland he was a frequent contributor to the periodical literature of the day, and took an active part in the Irish literary movement of the 1840s.
Long before the first attempts to lay a submarine cable across the Atlantic was made (1857), Dr. Mullock had on several occasions publicly propounded the feasibility of connecting Europe
with North America
by means of submarine telegraph
. A good linguist in Spanish, French, and Italian, he was the first to bring before the English-speaking world the life and works of the great Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori, publishing his Life at Dublin in 1846, and in the following year a translation of the saint's History of Heresies and their Refutation. In 1847 appeared at Dublin his Short History of the Irish Franciscan Province translated from the Latin
work of Francis Ward; he also wrote The Cathedral of St. John's, Newfoundland and its consecration (Dublin, 1856) and published "Two Lectures on Newfoundland"(New York, 1860).
Unlike his great predecessor, Bishop Fleming, he regarded himself as a Newfoundlander, and not just an Irish missionary, and was eager to profess local nuns and ordain local priests. Believing that "It is the duty of a Bishop to aid and advise his people in all thaeir struggles for justice" he took an active part in political life and did not scruple to use his religious position to bring about desirable political reforms.
When in 1852 the Colonial Office refused to grant responsible government to Newfoundland he denounced it in extreme terms in a published letter. He and his priests became active and open supporters of the Liberal Party which became the government when responsible government was granted in 1855. But he soon became disillusioned with politicians "who take care of themselves, and do nothing for the people". When the government finally fell, he nevertheless urged Catholics to vote for it, probably because the Anglican Bishop Edward Feild
had endorsed the Conservatives. In the ensuing election and its aftermath he pursued a somewhat inflammatory course culminating in his putting the inhabitants of Cat's Cove under the Episcopal Ban for political actions which displeased him.
However, in his later years he threw his influence on the side of order, reminding his people that "the powers that be are ordained of God". His actions had always sprung from generous motives, and were not unusual in Ireland in the nineteenth century. A kindly, hospitable man, greatly respected for his religious actions, he was yet indignant at what he saw as any insult to his community. When he died the Governor, Sir Anthony Musgrave
, attended the Requiem
Mass, all the flags flew at half-mast, and all the shops closed. He and his contemporary Feild, the Anglican Bishop, were among the most influential people in nineteenth century Newfoundland.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
and did much to establish and develop the church in the region. Born in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Co. Limerick, 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...
, he died in St. John's and is buried in the crypt of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland and the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland....
.
Academic Life
Mullock became a FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
in 1825, having been educated at St. Bonaventure's College, Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
. He went on to St. Isidore's College, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where, in 1829, he was ordained priest. After long service 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...
— at Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, and Dublin — he was appointed, in 1847, coadjutor with right of succession to Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming
Michael Anthony Fleming
Michael Anthony Fleming was Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland. He was principally responsible for changing a small mission with several priests in four parishes into a large diocese with over 40,000 congregants and was the single most influential Irish immigrant to come to Newfoundland...
of St. John's, Newfoundland, and was consecrated by Cardinal Fransoni on 27 December, 1847, at St. Isidore's, Rome.
Life of Bishop
In July, 1850, he succeeded Bishop Fleming. The church made great progress in Newfoundland during the episcopate of Dr. Mullock, a new diocese, Harbour Grace, being erected. The splendid cathedral of St. John'sBasilica of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland and the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland....
, begun in 1841, was consecrated on 9 September 1855. He also opened in 1857 St Bonaventure's , a school for middle-class boys, a new episcopal palace and library, eleven convents, and numerous churches.
He took a keen interest in the commercial development of Newfoundland, and was most enthusiastic about its natural resources. He was frequently consulted by the Governor on matters relating to the welfare of the country, and many of his suggestions relating to the fisheries and other matters were adopted. Before leaving Ireland he was a frequent contributor to the periodical literature of the day, and took an active part in the Irish literary movement of the 1840s.
Long before the first attempts to lay a submarine cable across the Atlantic was made (1857), Dr. Mullock had on several occasions publicly propounded the feasibility of connecting Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by means of submarine telegraph
Transatlantic telegraph cable
The transatlantic telegraph cable was the first cable used for telegraph communications laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. It crossed from , Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island, in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland. The transatlantic cable connected North America...
. A good linguist in Spanish, French, and Italian, he was the first to bring before the English-speaking world the life and works of the great Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori, publishing his Life at Dublin in 1846, and in the following year a translation of the saint's History of Heresies and their Refutation. In 1847 appeared at Dublin his Short History of the Irish Franciscan Province translated from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
work of Francis Ward; he also wrote The Cathedral of St. John's, Newfoundland and its consecration (Dublin, 1856) and published "Two Lectures on Newfoundland"(New York, 1860).
Unlike his great predecessor, Bishop Fleming, he regarded himself as a Newfoundlander, and not just an Irish missionary, and was eager to profess local nuns and ordain local priests. Believing that "It is the duty of a Bishop to aid and advise his people in all thaeir struggles for justice" he took an active part in political life and did not scruple to use his religious position to bring about desirable political reforms.
When in 1852 the Colonial Office refused to grant responsible government to Newfoundland he denounced it in extreme terms in a published letter. He and his priests became active and open supporters of the Liberal Party which became the government when responsible government was granted in 1855. But he soon became disillusioned with politicians "who take care of themselves, and do nothing for the people". When the government finally fell, he nevertheless urged Catholics to vote for it, probably because the Anglican Bishop Edward Feild
Edward Feild
Bishop Edward Feild was a university tutor, university examiner, Anglican clergyman, inspector of schools and second Bishop of Newfoundland, born Worcester, England...
had endorsed the Conservatives. In the ensuing election and its aftermath he pursued a somewhat inflammatory course culminating in his putting the inhabitants of Cat's Cove under the Episcopal Ban for political actions which displeased him.
However, in his later years he threw his influence on the side of order, reminding his people that "the powers that be are ordained of God". His actions had always sprung from generous motives, and were not unusual in Ireland in the nineteenth century. A kindly, hospitable man, greatly respected for his religious actions, he was yet indignant at what he saw as any insult to his community. When he died the Governor, Sir Anthony Musgrave
Anthony Musgrave
Sir Anthony Musgrave KCMG was a colonial administrator and governor. He was born at St John’s, Antigua, the third of 11 children of Anthony Musgrave and Mary Harris Sheriff...
, attended the Requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
Mass, all the flags flew at half-mast, and all the shops closed. He and his contemporary Feild, the Anglican Bishop, were among the most influential people in nineteenth century Newfoundland.