Patrick Joseph Farrelly

Patrick Joseph Farrelly (19 December 1895 – 25 May 1974) was an Australian bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lismore and was the first native-born priest to hold episcopal office in the diocese.

Early life Farrelly was born and raised in Lismore, the second son of Patrick and Hannah Farrelly. He was educated at St Carthage's Primary School by the Presentation Sisters. His brother, Thomas, also became a priest for the Diocese of Lismore and was given the title of monsignor. He pursued studies for the priesthood at St Columba's College, Springwood and St Patrick's Seminary, Manly

Priesthood Farrelly was ordained on 1 December 1918 at St Carthage's Cathedral by Bishop John Joseph Carroll.

His first appointment was at Kempsey before moving to Smithtown. He was then appointed to Port Macquarie, followed by Lismore. He was then appointed parish priest of Bellingen, his final appointment before being elevated to the episcopacy.

Episcopate On 28 April 1931, Farrelly was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Lismore. He was ordained as a bishop on 30 August 1931 at St Carthage's Cathedral by Archbishop Bartolomeo Cattaneo.

Despite not being officially made Bishop of Lismore, Farrelly took over full-time administration of the diocese in 1947 when Bishop Carroll moved to live with the Redemptorist Fathers in Mitchelton, Brisbane due to ill-health. On 8 May 1949, he became Bishop of Lismore following the death of Carroll.

His episcopacy was defined by his energy and gifted speaking. He grew the diocese's infrastructure, establishing St Paul's College, Kempsey and opening several churches.

Retirement and Death On 1 September 1971, Farrelly retired as Bishop of Lismore, having reached the canonical retirement age of 75 almost a year earlier. He died on 25 May 1974 in Lismore and was buried in front of the Cathedral beneath a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.