Michael Dallat
Encyclopedia
Michael Dallat D.D.
M.A.
S.T.L.
was the Titular Bishop
of Thala and Auxiliary Bishop
of The Diocese of Down and Connor.
, a town that it still has two other living bishops among its sons. After post primary education in St Malachy's College (1938–43), he proceeded to Queen's where he graduated with an M.A.
in History
(1947). He was one of the first generation of students who began to study theology
in Rome
after the war. His theology studies (1947–51) were completed at the Pontifical Lateran University
, where he obtained an Licentiate in Sacred Theology.
on March 10, 1951. Following ordination, he was sent to pursue further studies for four years at the Catholic University of Leuven
, Belgium
(1951–55). He took courses in Sociology
and Historical Science
. It was a source of some amusement that a man who, as Bishop Patrick Walsh
said at his funeral "would never use a paragraph when a sentence would do", obtained further postgraduate qualifications with unusually long titles -Lic.en Pol et Soc, Lic en Sc Hist.!
He then spent much of his life in the field of education. Initially he was appointed to the teaching staff of St Malachy's College, his alma mater
, before beginning his 24 years in teacher training. He initially taught in St Mary's Teacher Training College (1963–69), and was then appointed as Principal of St Joseph’s Teacher Training College.
His great niece now studies Religious Education at St. Mary's University College, and has just completed a semester of study at the KHL in Leuven
, Belgium. He nephew is also a priest, The Very Rev Fr Ciaran Dallat is the current Parish Priest in the Sacred Heart Parish, Belfast.
During the 1970s he was a staunch defender of the principles of Catholic education, when there were proposals to move towards a unitary system for teacher training. However, he was not to be seen as merely a Catholic apologist, for he had many friends and much respect across the world of education.
His work also involved the amalgamation of St Mary's and St Joseph’s in 1985, when he became principal of the new joined college. For his efforts he was made a Member of the Cathedral Chapter
.
In 1987, he was appointed as Parish Priest of St Paul's on the Falls Road. At that time, it was the largest parish in Down and Connor, and its people had suffered very seriously during the previous two decades of civil unrest.
He was made a Monsignor
in 1988 and served as Vicar General
of Down and Connor during this time.
of Thala, and Auxiliary
of Down and Connor. He took as his motto Mary's response to the Angel Gabriel's invitation, Fiat Voluntas Tua (Your Will be Done). During this period, he retained his interest in education and was Chairman of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).
He retired as Bishop in March 2000. He died unexpectedly on 25 September 2000 and was buried in Hannahstown Cemetery, within the view of the city where he had laboured for 45 years.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
S.T.L.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
was the Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Thala and Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of The Diocese of Down and Connor.
Early life and study
He was a native of BallycastleBallycastle
Ballycastle can refer to:*Ballycastle, County Antrim, a small town in Northern Ireland*Ballycastle, County Mayo, a village in the Republic of Ireland...
, a town that it still has two other living bishops among its sons. After post primary education in St Malachy's College (1938–43), he proceeded to Queen's where he graduated with an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
(1947). He was one of the first generation of students who began to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in 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...
after the war. His theology studies (1947–51) were completed at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
, where he obtained an Licentiate in Sacred Theology.
Ministry
He was ordained priest for the Diocese of Down and ConnorDiocese of Down and Connor
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor, is a Roman Catholic diocese in the north-eastern part of Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh and is subject to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh...
on March 10, 1951. Following ordination, he was sent to pursue further studies for four years at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1951–55). He took courses in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and Historical Science
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. It was a source of some amusement that a man who, as Bishop Patrick Walsh
Patrick Walsh (Bishop)
Patrick Joseph Walsh , is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and from 1991 until 2008 he was the 31st Bishop of Down & Connor. Dr Walsh was born in 1931 at Cobh, Irish Free State...
said at his funeral "would never use a paragraph when a sentence would do", obtained further postgraduate qualifications with unusually long titles -Lic.en Pol et Soc, Lic en Sc Hist.!
He then spent much of his life in the field of education. Initially he was appointed to the teaching staff of St Malachy's College, his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, before beginning his 24 years in teacher training. He initially taught in St Mary's Teacher Training College (1963–69), and was then appointed as Principal of St Joseph’s Teacher Training College.
His great niece now studies Religious Education at St. Mary's University College, and has just completed a semester of study at the KHL in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium. He nephew is also a priest, The Very Rev Fr Ciaran Dallat is the current Parish Priest in the Sacred Heart Parish, Belfast.
During the 1970s he was a staunch defender of the principles of Catholic education, when there were proposals to move towards a unitary system for teacher training. However, he was not to be seen as merely a Catholic apologist, for he had many friends and much respect across the world of education.
His work also involved the amalgamation of St Mary's and St Joseph’s in 1985, when he became principal of the new joined college. For his efforts he was made a Member of the Cathedral Chapter
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
.
In 1987, he was appointed as Parish Priest of St Paul's on the Falls Road. At that time, it was the largest parish in Down and Connor, and its people had suffered very seriously during the previous two decades of civil unrest.
He was made a Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1988 and served as 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 Down and Connor during this time.
Bishop
On February 13, 1994, he was ordained Titular BishopTitular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Thala, and Auxiliary
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Down and Connor. He took as his motto Mary's response to the Angel Gabriel's invitation, Fiat Voluntas Tua (Your Will be Done). During this period, he retained his interest in education and was Chairman of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).
He retired as Bishop in March 2000. He died unexpectedly on 25 September 2000 and was buried in Hannahstown Cemetery, within the view of the city where he had laboured for 45 years.