The Most Reverend Sir James Duhig | |
|---|---|
| 3rdRoman Catholic Archbishop | |
 James Duhig, 1953 | |
| Archdiocese | Brisbane |
| Province | Brisbane |
| Installed | 13 January 1917 |
| Term ended | 10 April 1965 |
| Predecessor | Robert Dunne |
| Successor | Patrick O'Donnell |
| Other post | Bishopof Rockhampton (1905 – 1912) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 19 September 1896 (Priest) in Rome by Cardinal Cassetta[1] |
| Consecration | 10 December 1905Bishop by Archbishop Michael Kelly[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1871-09-02)2 September 1871 |
| Died | 10 April 1965(1965-04-10) (aged 93) |
| Buried | St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane |
| Nationality | Irish/Australian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | John and Margaret (née Barry) Duhig |
| Occupation | Cleric |
| Alma mater | St Joseph's, Gregory Terrace; Irish College, Rome; Pontifical Urbaniana University |
Sir James DuhigKCMG (2 September 1871 – 10 April 1965) was an Irish-born AustralianRoman Catholic religious leader. He was theArchbishop of Brisbane for 48 years from 1917 until his death in 1965. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving bishop in the Catholic Church (1905–1965).
Duhig was born inBroadford, County Limerick but emigrated with his family to Australia as a young boy. He completed his education atSt. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Queensland. After that, he worked for the Cooperative Butchering Company. After undertaking his studies for the priesthood at theIrish College andPontifical Urbaniana University, both in Rome,[2] Duhig was ordained a priest in 1896 and his profile grew rapidly.
On 10 December 1905, he became the youngest bishop in the Catholic Church when he was consecratedBishop of Rockhampton. (Bishop Duhig penned the article on the Diocese of Rockhampton for theCatholic Encyclopedia.) On 26 February 1912, he was transferred toBrisbane, where he became the coadjutor archbishop to the elderly ArchbishopRobert Dunne.[2] On 13 January 1917 he succeeded as Archbishop of Brisbane, a position he held for 48 years until his death in 1965.
In the early years of Duhig's tenure, his archdiocese took on an extensive building program, including churches, hospitals and schools, erecting more than 400 buildings, earning him the nickname of "Duhig the Builder".[3] These buildings are a prominent feature of the Brisbane landscape to this day. His most ambitious project, theCathedral of the Holy Name inFortitude Valley, was a casualty of theGreat Depression which destroyed the value of the investments that were to finance the project.[citation needed] In addition to the construction of buildings, Duhig created over fifty new parishes and encouraged the establishment of twenty communities of religious men and women in an ecclesiastical province that had previously been dominated by theIrish Christian Brothers and theSisters of Mercy.[4]
One of his most notable acts as Archbishop was being the recognised founder ofSt Columban's College, with the school being founded in 1928 by the Archbishop, being located inAlbion. On Sunday 29 January 1928, St Columban’s College was officially opened. The property,Highlands, was one of the stately homes of Brisbane. The site was spectacular, looking out over theBrisbane River and the city of Brisbane. Highlands was purchased by Archbishop Duhig in 1926 and passed into the hands of theChristian Brothers, whom he invited to run the College for the purpose of providing a Catholic education for young boys. As founder of St Columban’s College, Archbishop Duhig supported the Christian Brothers in their educational endeavours with large sums of money, especially in the late 1950s when the College had to expand dramatically. Archbishop Duhig always regarded the school as something very dear to him. He was a great diplomat and was proud of his association with the College.[5][6]
Duhig played an active role in public life. However, unlike his contemporary, ArchbishopDaniel Mannix of Melbourne, who seemed to thrive on public attention, controversy and inflaming public passions, Duhig favoured accommodation with the (largelyProtestant) established order. This was reflected not only in his being awarded official honours, but also in the positive ecumenical legacy that he left to the Christian community in Brisbane and throughout the State of Queensland.[7][8]
In February 1934, Duhig was elected President of theRoyal Geographical Society of Queensland.[9]
In 1937 Duhig successfully proposed that the River Road (from Brisbane city toToowong) should be renamedCoronation Drive, to celebrate the coronation ofKing George VI.[10]
Duhig played a major role in the development of theUniversity of Queensland, being a member of the university senate from 1916 until his death in 1965.[11] He establishedSt Leo's College, where an annual lecture is given in his honour.[12][13] The university recognised Duhig's contribution by naming the Duhig Library after him and awarding him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.[11]
Duhig was appointed a Companion of theOrder of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1954 in recognition of service as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane,[14] and made a Knight Commander (KCMG) of the order in 1959 in recognition of service as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Queensland.[15]
Duhig published the following works:
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| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | 3rdRoman Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton 1905–1912 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 3rdRoman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane 1917–1965 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
