Father Richard Gilhooly
Production date
1932-1933
Description
Father Richard Gilhooly. Born in 1910 in Pungarehu to Andrew and Kate Gilhooly, he attended Holy Cross Seminary in Mosgiel before obtaining a Doctor of Divinity through the Pontifical Irish College in Rome in 1932 at the age of just 21. He was ordained in 1933 but because of his age (ordination was not formally allowed until the age of 24), he had to get special papal dispensation to take Holy Orders. He worked for a period of time at the Archdiocese of Wellington before dying of tuberculosis (contracted in Rome) in New Plymouth in 1955.
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Public comments
Just to add to what my mum has contributed: Father Dick, as he is known in the family, is my great uncle. He was a fascinating man: • . he was born in Pungarehu (in XXXX) and, following an education at attended Holy Cross Seminary in Mosgiel; • . was a Diocesan priest from 1933 - 1955; • . in 1932 he obtained a Doctor of Divinity through the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. He was 21 at the time: the degree is usually completed over a 5 year period but he knocked it off in two. • . he was ordained in 1933 but, because of his age (ordination was not formally allowed until the age of 24 at the time), he required and received a papal dispensation to take Holy Orders. • . following ordination he worked for a period of time for the Archdiocese of Wellington; • . he died of TB (contracted in Rome) in New Plymouth in 1955.
- Richard Shaw posted 5 years ago.
This is Father Richard Gilhooly, my uncle, who studied in Rome and became a Doctor of Divinity. Son of Andrew and Kate Gilhooly, Pungarehu. He contracted TB in Rome and died in New Plymouth in 1955 aged 45.
- Liz Shaw posted 8 years ago.