Joseph HIGGINS

Auxiliary Bishop 1889

Born on 3 Jan 1838, Moyvore, Westmeath in Co. Meath, Ireland in the parish of Moyvore. (Meath Diocese)
His father was John Higgins and his mother was Mary Coffey. He was educated at Classical School, St Finian's, Navan Maynooth, and attended Seminary at Maynooth.
He was ordained on 29 May 1863, Maynooth and incardinated in the Diocese of Meath.

He was elected as Bishop on 18 Sep 1888 as Titular Bishop of Antefelle, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney.
He was consecrated (ordained as Bishop) on 31 Mar 1889 in Cathedral, Navan Ireland by Archbishop William Walsh (Consecrating Bishop) the Archbishop of Dublin. He was assisted by Bishop Thomas McNulty, the Bishop of Meath, and Bishop Bernard O'Reilly, the Bishop of Liverpool.
He was subsequently translated (moved) as Bishop of Rockhampton 4 May 1899; Bishop of Ballarat 3 March 1905.
Date & Place of Death: 16 Sep 1915, Ballarat.
He was buried in the Vault of St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat.
During his lifetime, he was Assistant Priest at Tullamore; St Finian's Diocesan Seminary (1867-1884); Parish Priest - Castletown, Devlin; - St Benedict's, Broadway, Sydney

The Previous Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Sydney

• John Polding OSB, Vicar Apostolic of New Holland 1834-1842; Archbishop of Sydney 1842-1877.
• Roger Bede Vaughan OSB, 1877-1883.
• Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran, 1884-1911.
• Michael Kelly, 1911-1940.
• Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy, 1940-1971. Co-adjutor Bishop 1937-1940; Archbishop 1940-46; Cardinal 1946-1971.
• James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1971-1983. Auxiliary Bishop Sydney 1957-1969. Bishop Armidale 1969-1971.
• Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1983-2001.

The Predecessor Auxiliary and Co-adjutor Archbishops
of the Archdiocese of Sydney

1. Charles Henry Davis OSB, 1848-1854. Also Titular Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.
2. Joseph Higgins, 1889. (Appointed Bishop of Rockhampton 1889).
3. Michael Sheehan, Co-adjutor Archbishop 1922-1937.
4. Eris Norman Michael O'Brien, 1948-1953. (Appointed Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn 1953.)
5. Patrick Francis Lyons, 1950-1956. (Appointed Co-adjutor Bishop Sale 1956. Bishop 1957-1967.)
6. James Patrick Carroll, 1954-1965. Retired 1984. Died 1995.
7. James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1957-1969
8. Thomas William Muldoon, 1960-1986.
9. Edward Francis Kelly MSC, 1969-1975. (Appointed Bishop of Toowoomba 1975.)
10. Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1973-1978. (Appointed Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn, 1978-1983.)
11. Patrick Laurence Murphy, 1977-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Broken Bay 1986. Retired)
12. Bede Vincent Heather, 1979-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Parramatta 1986. Retired)
13. John Edward Heaps, 1981-1992. Retired 1992. Died 2004.
14. Peter William Ingham, 1993-2001. (Appointed Bishop of Wollongong 2001.)
15. Geoffrey James Robinson, 1984-2004. Retired.
16. David Cremin, 1974-2005. Retired.

See also:

• Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
• Current Auxiliary Bishops of Sydney
  • Bishop Julian Porteous
  • Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
• Significant Early Pioneers in the Church in Sydney