Bishop Moriarty Dies I-MEMORIAL FONT

Fearless Champion of The Faith
By a Staff Reporter
BIRMINGHAM EXHIBITION
Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mgr. Ambrose James Moriarty, sixth Bishop of Shrewsbury, who died on Friday, June 3, aged 79, after a long illness, was offered by his Coadjutor, Mgr. John Aloysius Murphy, in the presence of the Archbishop of Birmingham, at the Cathedral church of Our Lady Help of Christians & St. Peter of Alcantara, Shrewsbury, on Wednesday last at 11.30 a.m.
Among those present in the Sanctuary, were Archbishop Downey, Archbishop McGrath, Bishop Marshall, Bishop Ellis, Bishop Halsall, and Bishop Bright.
Born at Stockport, in Cheshire, on August 7, 1870, Bishop Moriarty entered Cotton College, at an early age, to corrunence his studies for the priesthood which were continued at °mitt and the English College, Rome, where he was ordained in 1894, and a little later took his degree of Doctor of Divinity.
In the summer of 1894 he was appointed assistant priest to his uncle, Canon Allen, afterwards Bishop Allen, of Shrewsbury, where Bishop Moriarty was appointed parish priest. In 1910 he became Canon Theologian of the Shrewsbury Chapter, and in 1925 Vicar-Genera] of the diocese under Bishop Singleton.
Consecrated Coadjutor Bishop on June 28, 1932, he succeeded Bishop Singleton on his death in 1934. The whole of Bishop Moriarty's clerical life as curate, parish priest, and Bishop was spent in the cathedral parish of Shrewsbury. On the occasion of his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee five years ago the Holy Father honoured him with the appointment of assistant at the Pontifical Throne.
SCHOLARLY PRELATE
The Bishop's greatest joy was to ordain young priests and consecrate churches. During his episcopate the diocese of Shrewsbury increased its Catholic population by 20,000. He is succeeded by the Coadjutor, Bishop Murphy.
Dr. Downey, Archbishop of Liverpool, in a tribute to Bishop Moriarty states: " The passing of Bishop Moriarty in his 80th year, after a long episcopate, marks a loss not only to the diocese of Shrewsbury, but the Catholic patriarchy of England and Wales.
"He was a scholarly prelate and widely read, with a marked love of antiquities and historical research. He was loved by the people whose interests he had very much at heart. He was a man of sterling piety, which had been sponsored at the famous colleges of Oscott and Venerahile in Rome, where he was a class fellow of Cardinal Hinsley.
" He was, indeed, a good shepherd of his flock and a worthy successor of his uncle, Dr. Allen, fourth Bishop of Shrewsbury. May he rest in peace."
Bishop Moriarty, ever a fearless champion of the Faith, was among the first to protest against the " trial " of Cardinal Mindszenty, and for this was censured on the Hungarian Radio. From his sick bed he ordered the reading, in all churches of the diocese of Shrewsbury, of extracts from the document written by Cardinal Mindszenty before his arrest in which he gave details of a confession drug used by the Communist police. He personally arranged for 30.000 copies of a circular dealing with the document. to be printed in Shrewsbury and distributed to the laity.
PERSONS AND PLACES
When Dame Vera Laughton Mathews, creator-and head of the Women's Royal Naval Service and now Chairman of the Association of Wrens, visited Nottingham last week to open the Nottingham branch's new -headquarters, one of the principal speakers was Mgr. Ellis, Bishop of Nottingham.
Canon T. N. Taylor, parish priest of Carfin, where the famous Carlin Grotto is situated, has been appointed a Monsignor.
The Salvatorian Provincial celebrated Solemn High Mass at the opening ceremony of the new Salvetorten Sisters' Convent at Abbots Langley, Herts. The old convent in the same area will be completely taken over as the school.
Catholic scholars attended a special schools performance of Monsieur Vincent at the Bristol Cinema, Birmingham, on June 3. the admission charges being refunded in certain cases, in view of the educational nature of the performance, by the local education authority.
Master J. Farrell was awarded the Victor Ludorum at the annual sports of the Salesian College, Cowley, Oxford, held on Thursday of last One of the largest and most successful training camps ever held by the Birmingham Catholic Scout Guild, took place at Heythrop College at Whit week-end.
Mgr. Ellis, Bishop of Nottingham, has ordered prayers for the harvest to be recited for the next four months after the prayers for the conversion of Russia that are said at the end of Mass.
Miss T. T. Grey, headmistress of Mount Carmel's senior mixed school, Salford, is one of six delegates from the city to the National Association of Head Teachers' Conference at Brighton.