Fonds - Rev. John A. O'Reilly fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Rev. John A. O'Reilly fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on content of fonds

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

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Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1867, predominant 1892-1933 (Creation)
    Creator
    O'Reilly, John A.

Physical description area

Physical description

1 cm of textual records

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1867-1933)

Biographical history

John A. O'Reilly (1867-1933), Catholic priest and author, was born on 17 February 1867 at Placentia, Newfoundland, eldest son of Sarah (Phelan) and Thomas O'Reilly. He died at Montreal in December 1933.

O'Reilly received his early education in the parish school at Placentia. He attended St. Bonaventure's College, St. John's (1885-1888) and the Irish College in Rome (1888-92). O'Reilly was ordained a priest in the chapel of the Irish College by Archbishop Lenti on 16 April 1892 and celebrated his first Mass in St. Agatha's Church, Rome, the following day.

O'Reilly's first appointment was as curate in the Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist, St. John's (1892-99). While carrying out this ministry he established a night school for working class boys in the city. In 1889 Rev. O'Reilly wrote "Notes on Rome: The Capital of the Christian World" a manuscript published by Devine and O'Mara, St. John's.

In 1899 Rev. O'Reilly was appointed as parish priest of St. Joseph's Parish, Salmonier. In 1919 he was established in St. John, New Brunswick as one of the contributing staff of the Diocesan Paper, The New Freeman. He authored the book, The Last Sentinel of Castle Hill. O'Reilly was a frequent contributor to the Newfoundland Quarterly. Based on an article in the Evening Telegram (5 July 1919), some have speculated that Rev. O'Reilly was the author of five historical novels.

In 1921 Rev. O'Reilly was hopitalized in Montreal. While his health somewhat improved, O'Reilly was unable to resume active pastoral ministry. He was confined to a rest home on Montreal where he lived a quiet life until his death in 1933.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of records related to the life and activities of Rev. John A. O'Reilly, including correspondence regarding appointments; letters between Bishop Edward Patrick Roche and Rev. O'Reilly (1919); offers celebret for other dioceses (1919); correspondence concerning health (1921); and receipts for health care in Montreal (1922-1933). The fonds also includes his manuscript, "Rome: The Capital of the Christian World (1899) as well as newspaper clippings and printed material related to his life.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    No restrictions

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Finding aids

    Item list available.

    Associated materials

    Archbishop Howley fonds, Archbishop Roche fonds

    Related materials

    Accruals

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    Standard number

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    Description record identifier

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    Status

    Draft

    Level of detail

    Partial

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created - April 19, 2013

    Language of description

    • English

    Script of description

      Sources

      Accession area