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Dictionary of Miramichi Biography

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O'KEEFFE, MICHAEL ALEXIS (1865-1934)

O'KEEFFE, MICHAEL ALEXIS, Catholic priest and rector, Chatham, 1904-34; b. Bartibog, 16 Jul 1865, s/o William O'Keeffe, a native of Co. Cork, Ireland, and Elizabeth Delaney; brother of Elizabeth O'Keeffe; ordained 1891; d. Chatham, 15 Jun 1934.

Michael A. O'Keeffe received a classical education at the Little Seminary in Quebec City before being trained for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary in Montreal. He was ordained in 1891 and had his first assignment at Grand Falls, N.B., as curate to Father John J. O'Leary. When O'Leary died in 1892 he was selected to succeed him. He remained at Grand Falls until 1904, at which time he was appointed rector of St Michael's Cathedral in Chatham.

O'Keeffe was a "zealous pastor" of St Michael's, and he shared with Bishop Thomas F. Barry the many administrative responsibilities associated with the financing and construction of the cathedral, the bishop's palace, the Hotel Dieu Hospital, and St Thomas College. In 1910 he was among the appointees to the first board of governors of St Thomas. In 1916 he was made a domestic prelate by the Vatican, with the title of "Monsignor." When Auxiliary Bishop Louis J. O'Leary was appointed to Charlottetown in 1920 he became interim administrator of the Chatham diocese.

In the words of Father James M. Hill, the O'Keeffes were a family "distinguished in the cause of religion." A brother of Father O'Keeffe was preparing to enter the seminary before his sudden death occurred, and four of his sisters joined religious communities. Margaret, Elizabeth, and Ellen O'Keeffe were members of the Religious Hospitallers of St Joseph, while Mary O'Keeffe (Rev. Madam O'Leary) was with the Order of the Sacred Heart in Rochester, N.Y.

Sources

[b] Can. Album [d] Leader 22 Jun 1934 / Fraser (STC); RC clergy files; World 28 May 1910, 22 Nov 1916


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