Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming

Styles of Michael Anthony Fleming

Reference style The Right Reverend Spoken style Your Excellency Religious style Monsignor Posthumous style none

Michael Anthony Fleming (c. 1792 – July 14, 1850) was Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland. He was principally responsible for changing a small mission with several priests in four parishes into a large diocese with over 40,000 congregants and was the single most influential Irish immigrant to come to Newfoundland in the 19th century. Image File history File links Michael Anthony Fleming (1792-1850) Artist unknown. ... Image File history File links Michael Anthony Fleming (1792-1850) Artist unknown. ... Image File history File links Patriarchal_or_Archbishop_Cross. ... A style of office, or honorific, is a form of address which by tradition or law precedes a reference to a person who holds a title or post, or to the office itself. ... The Reverend is an honorary prefix to the names of most Christian clergy and ministers. ... His / Her Excellency is an honorific title given to certain high-ranking political officials. ... Monsignor is an ecclesiastical honorific used by certain priests and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The designation C: (sometimes C: ) is the drive letter that refers to the main partition (or portion of an hard drive) on an MS-DOS or Windows personal computer. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... St. ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... Map of Newfoundland Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Michael Anthony Fleming was born about three miles from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. As a boy, Fleming studied the classics for two years at Stradbally, Co. Waterford and entered the Franciscan seminary at Wexford. Fleming was ordained on October 15, 1815 and assigned to a friary at Carrickbeg. His experience in helping to rebuild the Franciscan chapel there marked him at an early age as a "builder", and stood him in good stead for his later work in Newfoundland. Main St. ... Tipperary (Irish: Tiobraid Árann) is a town in the centre of County Tipperary. ... Stradbally (An Sráidbhaile in Irish) is a small town in County Laois, Republic of Ireland, located in the midlands of Ireland along the N80 road near Portlaoise. ... Waterford (Irish: Port Lairge) is, historically, the capital of County Waterford in Ireland, though today the city is administered separately from the county, the latter having its seat in Dungarvan. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman) is the county town of County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland. ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in Leap years). ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Map of Newfoundland Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

In 1823, at the invitation of Bishop Thomas Scallan and the Benevolent Irish Society, Fleming was recruited to come and work as a priest in St. John's. From the outset, Fleming proved to be of a very different temperament from Scallan. His ideas about the place of the Irish and Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland were informed by his experience of his close friend Daniel O'Connell's nationalist politics in Ireland. Soon after he was consecrated coadjutor bishop in the Chapel in St. John's in 1829, Fleming implemented his Ultramontanism ideology; he embarked on a systematic expansion of institutional Catholicism in Newfoundland. This included the construction of new parish churches, the subdivision of existing parishes into new parishes, the recruitment of Irish priests, and the introduction of two religious orders of Irish women to teach young female children. He took pains to visit outport Newfoundland, and during the winter of 1835 lived in a fishing room at Petty Harbour, administering smallpox vaccine to the whole community of Catholics and Anglicans, and remaining in quarantine with them when no physician or other clergyman would go there. 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the BIS The Benevolent Irish Society (BIS) is a philanthropic organization founded on 17 February 1806, a month before the Feast of St. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Ultramontanism literally alludes to a policy supporting those dwelling beyond the mountains (ultra montes), that is beyond the Alps—generally referring to the Pope in Rome. ... Map of Newfoundland Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

The Newfoundland tricolour flag

Fleming’s influence was not limited to the religious sphere. As Vicar Apostolic, and later as Bishop, he promoted the interest of the Irish Catholics in Newfoundland’s political sphere. Through petitioning the governor and the Colonial Office, Fleming was instrumental in enforcing the Emancipation Act for Irish Catholics in Newfoundland in 1832. In addition, with the parallel granting of Representative Government for the colony, Fleming was outspoken in the political process, lending support to candidates, both Catholic and Protestant, who furthered the rights and privileges he felt were important for the Irish Catholic population in the colony. Whether in church administration, education or political activities, Fleming’s bold actions and attitude marked a significant departure for the Roman Catholic clergy in the Newfoundland colony. Image File history File links Nfldflag_tri. ... Image File history File links Nfldflag_tri. ... Apostolic vicariate is a type of Roman Catholic diocese for non-Catholic or missionary regions and countries. ... Catholic Emancipation was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity and the Test Acts. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Fleming is also credited with creating the "Pink, white and green" tricolour flag of Newfoundland. During annual wood hauls for the Anglican cathedral and Roman Catholic cathedral, considerable rivalry developed between the two groups involved. The Protestant English marked their wood piles with the pink flag of the Natives' Society, while the Catholic Irish used green banners. The threat of violence was such that Bishop Fleming intervened, and persuaded them to adopt a common flag , on which the pink and green would be separated by a white stripe to symbolize peace. The pink symbolized the Tudor Rose of England (The Protestants) and the Green symbolized St. Patrick's Emblem of Ireland (The Catholics). The White is taken from St. Andrew's Cross (St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Fishermen and Scotland). // Provincial Flag Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador The current flag of Newfoundland and Labrador was introduced in 1980, and was designed by Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt. ... The Cathedral of St. ... City of St. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... When Henry Tudor took the crown of England from Richard III in battle, he brought about the end of the Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster (Red Rose) and the House of York (White Rose). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... Statue of Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (died March 17, 462, 492, or 493), is the patron saint of Ireland. ... The Saltire, the flag of Scotland, with a Pantone 300 coloured field. ... Saint Andrew (Greek: Andreas, manly), the Christian Apostle, brother of Saint Peter, was born at Bethsaida on the Lake of Galilee. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

The Basilica of St. John The Baptist

Fleming's greatest domestic projects, the ones for which he became best remembered, were the recruiting of two orders of Irish religious women to work as teachers, and the construction of a new cathedral for St. John's. In 1833 at Fleming's request, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin came to Newfoundland from Galway and opened a school for children. Within weeks the sisters were inundated with new pupils, the children of the Irish of St. John's, who saw education as the best means of economic and social advancement. In 1842, Fleming invited the Sisters of Mercy to come to teach girls and to help create a Catholic middle class. Through Fleming's influence, the Education Act of 1836 introduced the precedent of granting state funds to denominations for educational purposes. In 1847, Bishop Fleming recruited four brothers of the order of Irish Christian Brothers, a lay religious order founded in Waterford by the merchant Edmund Rice, to come to Newfoundland to teach at the Benevolent Irish Society's school. Through the 1830s, Fleming pursued a grant of land on which to build a cathedral. By 1838 the land was awarded, and construction began, continuing until 1855. The cathedral was the largest building project in 19th century Newfoundland, and thereafter became the definitive icon of Newfoundland Roman Catholicism. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (528x642, 116 KB) Summary Basilica of St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (528x642, 116 KB) Summary Basilica of St. ... City of St. ... City of St. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Galway (official Irish name: Gaillimh) is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland and capital of County Galway. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy (RSM) is an order of Roman Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland in 1831. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... There are at least two religious orders that go by the informal name Christian Brothers. ... Waterford (Irish: Port Lairge) is, historically, the capital of County Waterford in Ireland, though today the city is administered separately from the county, the latter having its seat in Dungarvan. ... Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice (born 1762, died 1844) was a Catholic missionary and educationalist who was Beatified by Pope John Paul II in October 1996. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... City of St. ...

On 9 September 2005, the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Fleming's cathedral, a plaque was unveiled by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada designating Bishop Fleming as a person of Canadian National Historic Significance. September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Additional reading

• Fire Upon the Earth: A Biography of Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming, O.S.F. by Brother J.B. Darcy, ISBN 1-894294-59-9, Creative Press, St. John's, Newfoundland

External links

• Newfoundland Heritage, Bishop Fleming
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Fleming and ultramontanism