Joseph Everett CAHILL (1899-1962)
Joseph was born in Slocan City, British Columbia on 02 March 1899. He was the son of Phillip James Cahill (1861-1929) and Elizabeth Laura Ready (1871-1942).
He moved to the Maritimes after receiving his early education in British Columbia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the St. Joseph’s College in New Brunswick in 1921, his Master of Arts degree from the Catholic University of Washington and his Doctorate in Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome in 1927. He was ordained as a priest 28 June 1925 from Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax.
Cleric
He came to St. Mary’s on 31 August 1927. He was firstly on the staff of St. Paul’s College and became Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg in 1929. He was the director of Camp Morton (1928-1931), pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Virden (1930-1931), acting pastor of the St. Patrick’s in Weston (1930-1931) the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Regina (1931-1935), pastor of St. Stephen’s Church, Regina (1931-1935), and Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral (1935-1962). He served during the Second World War with the RCAF as a chaplain, reaching the rank of wing commander. He returned to St. Mary’s in 1946, after six years of service. He was elevated to the dignity of a Domestic Prelate by His Holiness Pope Pius XII in 28 March 1952.
One of his big achievements was the rehabilitation of the St. Mary’s cemetery. He also pushed through a large scale renovation program at the cathedral.
He died at Winnipeg, following a heart attack, on 02 February 1962 and was buried in the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Sources:
- Birth Registration, British Columbia Vital Statistics.
- Death Registration, New Brunswick Vital Statistics.
- Canada Census: 1901, 1921, and 1931 Census
- Second World War Service Records
- Obituary, The Winnipeg Tribune, 03 February 1962, page 30.
- “St. Mary’s Rector Dies After Attack, The Winnipeg Tribune, 02 February 1962, page 19.
- “City Cleric Dies”, Winnipeg Free Press, 03 February 1962, page 3.
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