Patrick Thomas O'Reilly (December 24, 1833 – May 28, 1892) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts from 1870 to 1892.
Pope Pius IX appointed O'Reilly as the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Springfield on June 18, 1870. [4] He was consecrated on September 25, 1870, by Cardinal John McCloskey, the youngest bishop in the United States at age 37.[2]
According to author Stephen Kiltonic, O'Reilly was described as tall with "very kind gray eyes that would twinkle with humor". "The old folks, who remember him, speak of his quiet but convincing eloquence, his constant affability and kindness, his abiding trust in God that, to every cloud, gave a silver lining."[6] Author William Byrne described O'Reilly as a supportive manager of his priests, allowing them to make decisions on their own.[2]
Patrick O’Reilly died in Springfield of nephritis on May 28, 1892; businesses in Springfield closed for the day.[1] He was buried in the vault below St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Springfield". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.