Michael Dallat (11 June 1925 – 25 September 2000), D.D.,

M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

, S.T.L., was the

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 Catholic, Eastern Orthodox ...

of Thala and Auxiliary Bishop of The Diocese of Down and Connor.

Early life and study

Bishop Dallat was a native of Ballycastle, one of several sons to Peter and Sarah (née O'Neill) Dallat. His brother Christopher was also a priest in The Diocese of Down and Connor. After post primary education in

St Malachy's College St Malachy's College, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is the oldest Catholic diocesan college in Ulster. The college's alumni and students are known as Malachians. History The college, founded by Bishop William Crolly, opened on the feast of Sai ...

(1938–43), he proceeded to Queen's University where he graduated with an

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

(1947). He was one of the first generation of students who began to study

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

after the war. His theology studies (1947–51) were completed at the

Pontifical Lateran University The Pontifical Lateran University ( it, Pontificia Università Lateranense; la, Pontificia Universitas Lateranensis), also known as Lateranum, is a pontifical university based in Rome. The university also hosts the central session of the Pont ...

, where he obtained a

Licentiate in Sacred Theology Licentiate in Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus; abbreviated STL) is the second of three ecclesiastical degrees in theology (the first being the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and the third being the Doctorate in Sacred Theol ...

Ministry

Dallat was ordained priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor on 10 March 1951. Following ordination, he was sent to pursue further studies for four years at the Catholic University of Leuven, (1951–55) where he took courses in

Sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of empirical investigation an ...

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 Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and ...

qualifications with unusually long titles -''Lic.en Pol et Soc, Lic en Sc Hist.'' He spent much of his life in education. Initially he was appointed to the teaching staff of

, his alma mater, before beginning his twenty four years in teacher training. He taught first at St Mary's Teacher Training College (1963–69), and was then appointed as Principal of St Joseph's Teacher Training College. He was a staunch defender of the principles of Catholic education, when there were proposals to move towards a unitary system for teacher training. His work also involved the amalgamation of St Mary's and St Joseph's in 1985 and 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 the largest parish in Down and Connor. He was made a

Monsignor Monsignor (; it, monsignore ) is an honorific form of address or title for certain male clergy members, usually members of the Roman Catholic Church. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian ''monsignore'', meaning "my lord". "Monsignor" ca ...

in 1988 and served as

Vicar General A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop' ...

of Down and Connor.

Bishop

On 13 February 1994, Dallat was ordained

of Thala, and

Auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: * A backup site or system In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of ...

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 The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools is the advocate for Catholic Maintained Schools in Northern Ireland. The council represents trustees, schools and governors on issues such as raising and maintaining standards, the school estate and t ...

(CCMS). He retired as bishop in March 2000 and died in September 2000.

Other

One of Dallat's nephews, Fr Ciarán Dallat, came to the attention of the press and wider public in 2015 due to a sex scandal.

Death

Bishop Dallat died on 25 September 2000 and was buried in Hannahstown Cemetery.

References

External links

Diocese of Down & Connor website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dallat, Michael 1925 births 2000 deaths 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland Alumni of Queen's University Belfast Irish Roman Catholic titular bishops People from Ballycastle, County Antrim