James Maher(1840–1905) was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who served as Bishop of Port Augusta from 1896 until his death in 1905.
James Maher was born in the parish of Granemockler, Co. Tipperary, Ireland on 12 July 1840. He studied classics at
Mount Melleray Abbey
Mount Melleray Abbey is a Trappist monastery in Ireland, founded in 1833. It is situated on the slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains, near Cappoquin, Diocese of Waterford.
It is famous in literature due to Seán Ó Ríordáin's poem ''Cnoc Mel ...
Grammar School, and philosophy and theology at
St. John's College, Waterford. He was ordained priest at
Maynooth College
St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...
in 1868, by Bishop of Sale and arrived in South Australia in December of the same year. Fr Maher served in various roles, at Kadina, Mount Barker, Adelaide, and Kapunda, and was then appointed to Pekina, where he served as parish priest.
When the Port Augusta diocese was established and Dr. O'Reily appointed first Bishop in 1888, Father Maher was appointed Vicar-General, and on Dr. O'Reily's translation to the archdiocese of Adelaide, he succeeded him as Bishop of Port Augusta, being consecrated in St. Francis Xavier, Cathedral, Adelaide on 26 April 1896.
He died on 20 December 1905 in his residence in Pekina,
['Death of Dr. Maher', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Friday 22 Dec 1905 Page 7.] and was buried in front of St Catherine's Catholic church. He was succeeded by John Henry Norton, the first Australian-born Bishop of Port Augusta.
References
1840 births
1905 deaths
Christian clergy from County Tipperary
Irish expatriate Catholic bishops
19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Australia
20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Australia
Roman Catholic bishops of Port Augusta
Alumni of St John's College, Waterford
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