# Charles Heerey > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Charles_Heerey > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Charles_Heerey.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Heerey > Source revision: 1357354791 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Irish Catholic prelate}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Archbishop | honorific_prefix = [The Most Reverend](/source/Most_Reverend) | name = Charles Heerey | honorific_suffix = [C.S.Sp.](/source/Congregation_of_the_Holy_Spirit) | title = [Archbishop of Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha) | image = | image_size = | term_start = 11 May 1985 | caption = | church = [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) | archdiocese = [Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha) | appointed = 24 January 1927 | term_end = 6 February 1967 | predecessor = [Joseph Shanahan](/source/Joseph_Shanahan) | successor = [Francis Arinze](/source/Francis_Arinze) | other_post = | ordination = 24 September 1921 | ordained_by = | consecration = 29 May 1927 | consecrated_by = Joseph Shanahan | birth_date = 29 November 1890 | birth_place = [Castlerahan](/source/Castlerahan), [Ireland](/source/Ireland) | death_date = {{death date and age|1967|02|06|1890|11|29}} | death_place = Nigeria | buried = [Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha](/source/Cathedral_Basilica_of_the_Most_Holy_Trinity%2C_Onitsha) | denomination = | parents = | previous_post = Titular Bishop of Balanea (1927)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (1927)
Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (1931) | education = [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin) (BA) | alma_mater = [Blackrock College](/source/Blackrock_College)
[Rockwell College](/source/Rockwell_College)
[Holy Ghost Missionary College, Kimmage Manor, Dublin](/source/Holy_Ghost_Missionary_College%2C_Kimmage_Manor%2C_Dublin) | motto = | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt = }} '''Charles Heerey''' (29 November 1890—6 February 1967) was an Irish Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of the [Archdiocese of Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha) from 18 April 1950 until his death on 6 February 1967. Born in [Castlerahan](/source/Castlerahan), Ireland, Heerey attended [Blackrock College](/source/Blackrock_College) and [Rockwell College](/source/Rockwell_College) for his elementary education, and St. Mary's Rathmines and [Holy Ghost Missionary College, Kimmage Manor, Dublin](/source/Holy_Ghost_Missionary_College%2C_Kimmage_Manor%2C_Dublin) for his secondary education. He graduated with a BA from the [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin), and was ordained a priest in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) on 24 September 1921 by the [Congregation of the Holy Spirit](/source/Congregation_of_the_Holy_Spirit). After his ordination, Heerey moved to [Nigeria](/source/Colonial_Nigeria) in 1922. In 1927, he was appointed as the Titular Bishop of Balanea and the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of [Southern Nigeria](/source/Southern_Nigeria_Protectorate) in order to help Bishop [Joseph Shanahan](/source/Joseph_Shanahan). In 1931, he succeeded Bishop Shanahan as the Vicar Apostolate until the vicariate was elevated to an Archdiocese in 1950, he became the Archbishop of the newly created [Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha). He died while in office in 1967 and was succeeded by future Cardinal [Francis Arinze](/source/Francis_Arinze).'lArchbishop Charles Heerey and the History of the Church in Nigeria, 1890-1967 by Mary-Noëlle Ethel Ezeh IHM, Bandra, Mumbai: St Pauls, 2005. ==Biography== Heerey was born on 29 November 1890 in [Castlerahan](/source/Castlerahan), Ireland. He had his primary education at [Blackrock College](/source/Blackrock_College) and [Rockwell College](/source/Rockwell_College) while his secondary education at St. Mary's Rathmines and [Holy Ghost Missionary College, Kimmage Manor, Dublin](/source/Holy_Ghost_Missionary_College%2C_Kimmage_Manor%2C_Dublin). He further went to the [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin), where he obtained his bachelor's degree. He was ordained priest on 24 September 1921 by the [Congregation of the Holy Spirit](/source/Congregation_of_the_Holy_Spirit). On 24 January 1927, Heerey was appointed as the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of [Southern Nigeria](/source/Southern_Nigeria_Protectorate) and the Titular Bishop of Balanea. He was consecrated on 29 May 1927. He served as Council Father during the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council). On 21 May 1931, he succeeded Bishop [Joseph Shanahan](/source/Joseph_Shanahan) as the Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria. The vicariate was elevated as the [Archdiocese of Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha) and Heerey became its bishop, a position he held from 18 April 1950 until his death on 6 February 1967. He was succeeded by [Francis Arinze](/source/Francis_Arinze).{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Charles Heerey|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bheer.html |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=catholic-hierarchy.org}} During his episcopacy, Heerey founded several educational institutions in the [Southern Nigeria](/source/Southern_Nigeria_Protectorate), among them, [All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha](/source/All_Hallows_Seminary%2C_Onitsha) and [Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu](/source/Bigard_Memorial_Seminary%2C_Enugu) in 1924; [Christ the King College, Onitsha](/source/Christ_the_King_College%2C_Onitsha) on 2 February 1933, [Holy Rosary College, Enugu](/source/Holy_Rosary_College%2C_Enugu) in 1935 and is run by the [Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary](/source/Missionary_Sisters_of_the_Holy_Rosary), Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ in 1937, Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha on 7 October 1942; [Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji](/source/Mater_Amabilis_Secondary_School%2C_Umuoji) and [Regina Pacis Model Secondary School, Onitsha](/source/Regina_Pacis_Model_Secondary_School%2C_Onitsha) in 1962. He also founded the [Catholic Women Organization](/source/Catholic_Women_Organization) (CWO). According to ''[Daily Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Nigeria))'', Heerey was known for fighting slavery and promoting girl's education.{{Cite news | title=50 years after: Catholics celebrate Archbishop Heerey for stopping slavery |newspaper=[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Nigeria))| date=2017-03-22 | url=https://thesun.ng/50-years-after-catholics-celebrate-archbishop-heerey-for-stopping-slavery/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=2025-11-20}} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[Matthew Gibney](/source/Matthew_Gibney)}} {{s-tul|title=Bishop of Balanea|years=1927{{spaced ndash}}1950}} {{s-aft|after=Edward Francis Joseph Schlotterback, O.S.F.S.}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[Joseph Shanahan](/source/Joseph_Shanahan)}} {{s-ttl|title=Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria|years=1931{{spaced ndash}}1934}} {{s-non | reason = superseded}} {{s-break}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=[Archbishop of Onitsha](/source/Archdiocese_of_Onitsha)|years=1950{{spaced ndash}}1967}} {{s-aft|after=[Francis Arinze](/source/Francis_Arinze)}} {{s-break}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Heerey, Charles}} Category:Christian clergy from County Cavan Category:Holy Ghost Fathers Category:Irish Spiritans Category:Irish expatriate Roman Catholic bishops Category:Irish expatriate Roman Catholic archbishops Category:Roman Catholic missionaries in Nigeria Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Nigeria Category:1890 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Onitsha Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council Category:People educated at Blackrock College Category:Alumni of University College Dublin Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Pius XI --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Charles Heerey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Heerey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Heerey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.