Fr Thomas O'Reilly

Early life

Thomas O’Reilly was born on August 4, 1905 at Boynagh, Kilmarnham Wood in Ireland. He was educated at St Finian’s College Carlow and St Patrick’s College, Thurles. He was ordained to the priesthood in Thurles on June 14, 1931.

He arrived in Adelaide on October 24 that same year.

Appointments

On January 1, 1932 he received his first appointment as assistant priest at Thebarton where he remained for six years. On April 1, 1938 he was appointed ‘Locum Tenens’ in Salisbury while a fellow priest was on leave.

On March 4, 1939 he was appointed assistant priest at Spalding which at time was part of the Archdiocese, but only two months later he was appointed assistant priest at Naracoorte, but residing at Bordertown, which at that time was part of the Naracoorte parish. (It became a separate parish in 1944.)  He spent three fruitful years at Bordertown where he lived a self-sacrificing and lonely life as a country parish priest. 

On July 1, 1942 Fr O’Reilly was appointed parish priest of Kadina, which like Spalding was still part of the Archdiocese. He remained there for 22 years, devoting himself to the welfare of his people, until September 1964.  After celebrating three Masses on Sunday, plus a baptism and evening devotions, he had a heart attack and was admitted to the Wallaroo Hospital. Two days later he suffered a second attack and died there on September 9.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on September 11. The celebrant was Mgr M L Dunne, who had administered the Last Rites in the Wallaroo hospital. The panegyric was delivered by Mgr W Russell who described Fr O’Reilly as a dedicated priest, the Good Shepherd of the Gospel, in his care for the souls of his parish. He entered into all their joys and sorrows, rejoicing with them in times of joy, sorrowing with them in times of grief. He gave unstintingly to all who needed him. He enjoyed the love and respect of the people of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who saw him as a man of God, steadfast and uncompromising.” From Rome Archbishop Beovich expressed his grief at the death of two such good, zealous and faithful priests. (Fr John Bergin CM of the Seminary staff died a day later.)

Fr O’Reilly was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.