Born in Glendalough, Ireland, December 20,
1820
Taking of the habit in Maryvale, September
27, 1849
Oblation in Maryvale, November 1, 1850 (No.
293)
Dismissed in Canada in 1851.
Died in Eganville, Ontario, July 31, 1891.
Michael Joseph Byrne was born at Glendalough in the diocese of Dublin on December 20, 1920, son of Mary Byrne and Michael Byrne. He began his novitiate at Maryvale in England on September 27, 1849 with Father Charles Bellon as his novice master and he made his oblation there on November 1, 1850 before Father Casimir Aubert. The September 4, 1850 session of the General Council admitted him to vows. In the report of that session, the secretary wrote: “Brother Michael Byrne of Ireland, admitted to vows. He ends his novitiate on September 28; this brother is very tall and slim and has a robust health. His character is open and docile, with a sound judgment, adequately endowed with talent, has a strong prayer life and wants nothing other than to devote himself to the poor Irishmen in our missions in America. This year he made his philosophic studies.”
Sent to Canada, he was dismissed in 1851 “as a sub-deacon.” Bishop Guigues ordained him as a diocesan priest on June 10, 1852. He was subsequently assistant priest at L’Orignal in 1852, parish priest in Grenville from 1852 to 1854, at Renfrew from 1854 to 1859 and in Eganville from 1859 to 1891 where he died on July 31, 1891.
Sources and Bibliography
G.A.: Oblation formula without indicating place or date.
Carrière, Gaston, o.m.i., Byrne, Michael “, in Dictionnaire
biographique des Oblats de M.I. au Canada, Vol. I, Ottawa, 1976, p. 153
with sources and bibliography.
