James William GleesonCMG (24 December 1920 – 21 March 2000)^[1] was an Australianclergyman and the sixth^[2] Catholic Archbishop ofAdelaide. He was the first South Australian priest to become Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide.

James William Gleeson was born on 24 December 1920 inBalaklava, north ofAdelaide inSouth Australia.^[1] His early education was in Balaklava, attending aJosephite school before going to boarding school atSacred Heart College inSomerton Park, South Australia, aMarist Brothers college.^[3] Gleeson's studies for the priesthood were undertaken atCorpus Christi College inWerribee, Victoria, and he was ordained by ArchbishopMatthew Beovich in Adelaide'sSt. Francis Xavier's Cathedral on 24 July 1945.^[3] After serving as an assistant priest in the cathedral parish for a year, Beovich sent Gleeson to a teacher's college inMelbourne for a year, and in 1952 appointed him Director of Catholic Education for the archdiocese.^[4] In 1958, Gleeson receivedQueen's Birthday Honours, becoming a companion of theOrder of St Michael and St George (CMG). Cited for the award was his work with young people, both as Director of Catholic Education and through his participation with organisations dealing with the education and welfare of students.^[5]

After suffering a period of bad health, in November 1956 Matthew Beovich requested that he receive anauxiliary bishop.^[6]Pope Pius XII appointed Gleeson to the position, and he wasconsecrated by Beovich on 21 May 1957,^[3] becoming Adelaide's first South Australian Catholic bishop.^[5] To Gleeson, Beovich delegated responsibility forCatholic Action movements and Catholic radio and television, and he eventually came to chair a number of diocesan committees and councils. The Archbishop also tasked him with the ordination of new priests and parish visitation. However, the most important parts of the diocesan administration, such as financial and policy matters, remained under Beovich's control.^[7]

In July 1964, Gleeson was appointed coadjutor archbishop, in effect naming him as Beovich's successor. Beovich retired on 1 May 1971, making Gleeson the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.^[3]

On 20 March 2000, Archbishop Gleeson died as the result of a heart attack. His funeral was held at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. The Catholic schoolGleeson College is named in his honour.

• Robert, Rice (2001). "Some reflections on the contributions of Matthew Beovich and James Gleeson to the Second Vatican Council".Australasian Catholic Record.78 (1):46–61.
• Laffin, Josephine (2008).Matthew Beovich - A Biography. Wakefield Press.ISBN 978-1-86254-817-6.
• Press, Margaret M. (1991).Colour and Shadow – South Australian Catholics 1906–1962. The Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide.ISBN 0-646-04777-9.

• 1920 births
• 2000 deaths
• Participants in the Second Vatican Council
• Roman Catholic archbishops of Adelaide
• People from Balaklava, South Australia
• 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Australia
• People educated at Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)

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