Thursday, September 15, 2005 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 3

Was Father John P. O’Dwyer, OSA,the “first bishop” of the Diocese of Savannah?

ather John Possidius O’Dwyer was young, talented and suitable, according to Bishop Ignatius A. FReynolds of Charleston, and looked to be the perfect choice to become Bishop of Savannah as soon as the diocese could be established. By 1850, the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida were all Bishop Reynolds’ responsibility and the need to form a new diocese for the Catholics of Georgia was becoming more critical every day. The one caveat concerning Eucharist in bed but insisted on kneeling on the Father John Possidius O’Dwy- floor while being given Viaticum. er’s possible appointment was A sense of urgency a bout of sickness that took Throughout the period of O’Dwyer’s sickness him away in 1842 from his the tone of correspondence between Bishop first assignment, Saint Ignatius A. Reynolds of Charleston and other Augustine Church in Phila- bishops escalated in urgency. Preserved in the delphia, necessitating a year’s Archives of the University of Notre Dame, a let- recovery in Italy. When his ter dated May 8, 1850, and sent to Bishop John Rita H. DeLorme health improved, O’Dwyer Baptist Purcell of by Bishop Reynolds returned to Philadelphia with Father Francis cites O’Dwyer’s poor health. Keenly aware of Ashe of the Irish Province of the Augustinian the need for the creation of a separate diocese for

Order and sub-deacon William Harnett. In 1843, Georgia, Bishop Reynolds proposes a tentative, University. courtesy of Villanova Photo O’Dwyer, all of 27 years old, was given the task revised list of candidates for Bishop of the Father John P. O’Dwyer, OSA of founding the first Augustinian community at Diocese of Savannah, minus O’Dwyer’s name. Purcell and Gartland. The list, Reynolds ex- Villanova. Observing that Father Charles P. Montgomery plains, is already on its way to Rome. Bishop Though youthful, Father O’Dwyer was can no longer be considered for the post because Purcell is free to consider it and send his views uniquely qualified for the job. Born in Callan, he, too, is now incapacitated by sickness, Bishop on the candidates to the Prefect of the Con- County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1816, he completed Reynolds submits a roster of candidates for gregation of the Propagation of the Faith. In a his early education there before entering the Bishop of Savannah that includes: “1st Father postscript, Bishop Reynolds—perhaps growing Augustinian novitiate at Grantstown, Wexford. James F. Wood, 2nd Father Edward Purcell, 3rd, weary and a bit anxious—requests that Bishop After taking his vows in 1836, O’Dwyer went Father F. X. Gartland.” Reynolds writes Bishop Purcell lend his backing to the proposed slate. on to Italy for further studies. Following assign- Purcell that he would have put the bishop’s Bishop Gartland appointed ment to the Studium at Perugia, he was ordained brother, Edward, first on the list had he not been In the end, Francis Xavier Gartland of Phila- in Italy in 1839. previously informed that Father Edward Purcell delphia was chosen to be the first bishop of Recovered from the sickness that had inter- would refuse the appointment. Savannah. Later correspondence held in the rupted his earlier assignment to Saint Augustine Early in July, 1850, Bishop Reynolds contacts Notre Dame Archives includes another reference Church, Father O’Dwyer became the first presi- another prelate, Bishop Anthony Blanc of New to the appointment of the first bishop of Savan- dent of Villanova College (now University) as Orleans, sending him a revised list of potential nah. In his letter of December 7, 1884, Father well as a teacher of Latin and Greek. In 1844, candidates for the Savannah post. This list, Thomas C. Middleton, OSA, of Villanova sup- rioting incited by the anti-Catholic “Know- already sent to Rome by Samuel plies information about “Bishop” John Possidius Nothing” Party caused Saint Augustine Church Eccleston, SS, of , now includes 1) O’Dwyer, “who was already deceased when to be destroyed by fire and both Superior Father Father Joseph Schneller, 2) Father Edward appointed bishop” and avers that Francis Xavier Eugene Moriarity and Father Thomas Kyle, sen- Purcell and 3) Father Francis Xavier Gartland. Gartland was really the “second bishop” of ior priest, left. Father O’Dwyer stayed on, Bishop Reynolds writes that several of his con- Savannah. assuming the responsibility of keeping the col- temporaries have suggested he defer appointment Father James F. Wood, front-runner on Bishop lege going and of building a new chapel for the of a bishop of Georgia until the next council, but Reynolds’ initial list, but not included in the Augustinians. he feels that the need must be addressed now. final one, went on to a distinguished career, Recommended for Savannah Revised lists becoming fifth bishop of Philadelphia and, sub- Reeling financially, Villanova College closed On July 10, 1850, Bishop Reynolds passes this sequently, archbishop. Father Joseph Schneller, in February of 1845, but reopened in September, new list on to Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere of who helped found and edit The New York Weekly 1846. By the time the Church of Saint Augustine Detroit, Michigan. Noting that he has already Register and Catholic Diary, was pastor of Saint was rebuilt in 1848, Father O’Dwyer’s fragile made out four lists of possible bishops, Bishop Paul’s Church, Brooklyn, from 1848 until his health was faltering. Nevertheless, the move- Reynolds reiterates that several other churchmen death in 1860. Father Edward Purcell, who was ment to appoint him first bishop of Savannah have wanted him to delay appointment of a bish- reluctant to become bishop of Savannah, became was underway. In 1849, a terna was sent to op of Georgia until the next council, but that financial advisor to his brother, Bishop John Rome delineating O’Dwyer’s adherence to religion in the state is suffering for lack of a Baptist Purcell of Cincinnati. church doctrine, his piety, and his devotion to bishop. This final list, Reynolds adds, has been Francis X. Gartland, consecrated Bishop of the church. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia submitted to Rome by Archbishop Samuel Ec- Savannah on November 10, 1850, heroically priest’s health continued to decline. On April 2, cleston and is now being sent to Bishop Le- gave his life in the service of his people in 1854 1850, he was placed in the care of the Sisters of fevere so that he may, if he thinks it proper, at the height of a yellow fever epidemic in Charity in Baltimore. On May 24, 1850, Father write the Prefect of the Sacra Congregatio de Savannah. John P. O’Dwyer died. He was 34 years old. Propagande giving his opinion of the candidates. Saint John Neumann, CSSR, who was chaplain at Again, on July 10, 1850, Bishop Reynolds of Columnist RITA H. DELORME is a volunteer in the the Baltimore hospital in which O’Dwyer died, Charleston contacts Bishop John Baptist Purcell Diocesan Archives. She can be reached was impressed with O’Dwyer’s holiness, observ- of Cincinnati, ; this time, sending him the at [email protected]. ing that the stricken priest would not receive the final list with the names of Fathers Schneller,