Joseph Higgins
Joseph Higgins (1838—1915) was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest in Australia. He was the Bishop of Rockhampton and the Bishop of Ballarat.[1]
Early life
Joseph Higgins was born in 1838 in Westmeath, Ireland.[2] He was educated at St Finian's Seminary, Navan.
Religious life
Higgins attended St Patrick's College, Maynooth where he was ordained in 1863. He served as President of St. Finnian's in Navan from 1867 until 1884 before becoming parish priest in Castletown.[3]
On 4 May1899 he was appointed Bishop of Rockhampton where he completed the cathedral, built 19 churches and established 10 schools, 8 institutions for lay women, and 2 communities of nuns.[2][4]
On 3 March 1905, aged 67 years, he became the Bishop of Ballarat, succeeding Dr James Moore.[2]
Later life
Higgins died at the Bishop's Palace at Ballarat on 16 September 1915, having been ill with bronchial and heart troubles for some months prior.[4]
