Joseph Anthony O'Sullivan

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Joseph O'Sullivan, (Hamilton, Ontario 1886 -June 6, 1972), graduated from St. Jerome's College in Kitchener and studied theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal. In 1911 he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton.

Father O'Sullivan was curate at St. Mary's Cathedral Parish in Hamilton for ten years after which he served as pastor there and as Chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton. In 1923 he was named a monsignor and two years later he became rector of St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto.

Early in 1931 Monsignor O'Sullivan was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamilton in May that year. His arrival here coincided with the Great Depression which touched in no small way the people of the diocese.

As early as 1932, radio made its way into diocesan life, first with the broadcast of Lenten sermons from the basilica, and soon after that with the transmission of Christmas Midnight Masses from the same church.

During the early O'Sullivan years, eucharistic congresses throughout the diocese became an annual event of great significance. They were held at Miscouche, St. Andrew's, Souris, Vernon River, Egmont Bay, Kinkora, St. Peter's Bay and Indian River. Large crowds took part in these special devotions and heard powerful sermons from local and visiting clergy. These Congresses were postponed during the war years.

Another happening under the leadership of Bishop O'Sullivan was the introduction of an improved system of Christian Doctrine. A careful program was drawn up with annual written catechetical examinations throughout the diocese each June. Then in October each year there was a Catechetical Sunday during which diplomas and prizes were handed out at parish Masses.

St. Dunstan's University continued to grow in stature. In the mid 1930s the university Adult Education program began, with radio broadcasts, the formation of study clubs, credit unions and short courses for farmers and fishermen. The improvement in academic qualifications of the faculty proceeded gradually and in 1939 a much needed new Science building was erected. Probably the university's most notable moment came in 1941 when it began granting its own degrees. For fifty years before that the graduates received degrees from Laval University in Quebec. In 1942 St. Dunstan's University became a co-educational institution with the admission of women to the campus, although a few Sisters of St. Martha had been students there earlier.

In 1939 the Island experienced the exciting visit of the King and Queen to Charlottetown. This event, a school holiday, brought great crowds to the city in a spirit of widespread unity. That same year, unfortunately, brought about the horrors of World War II with thousands of our Island youth going off to battle, many never to return. A number of our diocesan priests also answered the call and served as chaplains overseas. During the early war years there were days of prayer for peace, often three a year, throughout the diocese. One of these days was usually requested by King George VI, one by Pope Pius XII and another by Bishop O'Sullivan.

Early in 1944 Bishop O'Sullivan was appointed Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario and he was installed in St. Mary's Cathedral there that April. His leadership in the Diocese of Charlottetown had been an impressive one during a time of much change and worldly turmoil. Archbishop O'Sullivan died on June 6, 1972 and is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in his native Hamilton.

This document is taken from O'Shea, Art. The twelve Bishops of the Diocese of Charlottetown, @ the Diocese of Charlottetown official web-site