Patrick MacAlister

Patrick McAlister (1826–1895) was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate and 24th lord bishop of Down and Connor.

McAlister was born in Bonecastle, parish of Down, and was baptised by Fr Cornelius Denvir (afterwards Bishop of Down and Connor) on 12 April 1826. He studied in St. Malachy's College and then entered the Logic Class in St Patrick's College, Maynooth on 27 August 1848. He was ordained in Clarendon Street Chapel, Dublin, by Bishop John Francis Willian Whelan OCD Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay on 18 September 1852 and was given his first appointment as Curate of Ballymena on 18 November 1852. He was sent on a temporary mission, as locum tenens to Glenravel, while the priest there was engaged in building St Patrick's Church in the Braid, where he officiated from December 1853 until March 1854. He returned to Ballymena and, after a few months, was appointed Curate of the Lower Ards, April 1854.

He was appointed Curate of Ahoghill in October 1856, but sent to take charge of Ballymoney parish until Father McErlain, the recently appointed parish priest could arrive, which did not occur until 10 March 1857. He was then curate of Ahoghill until May 1858, when he was appointed Administrator of Holywood and Ballymacarrett, while Father Killen, the parish priest, was administering the parish of Belfast for Dr Denvir. Father McAlister caught scarlatina in Holywood when discharging his duties and was sometime off the mission through sickness. He afterwards officiated two months in Saul, three months in Ballymena and four months in Glenravel; after which be was re-appointed to the curacy of Holywood and Barlymacarret; from that mission he was appointed parish priest of Ballycastle, County Antrim on 2 September 1862.

Bishop Patrick Dorrian died at his residence in Chichester Park, Belfast, 3 November 1885, at 7 a.m. and three days late he was interred within the chancel of St Patrick's Church, Belfast. At a meeting of the parish priests held in the chapel of St. Malachy's College immediately after Bishop Dorrian's funeral, McAlister was elected Vicar Capitular of Down and Connor. It was then customary that the Chapter of the vacant See elected three persons, styled respectively Dignus, Dignior and Dignissimus who, after approval of the bishops of the province were sent to the Pope, whose selection almost always fell on the Dignissimus. On 26 November 1885, the parish priests assembled in St. Malachy's College and elected Alexander McMullan, by 8 votes as Dignus, John McErlaine by 9 votes as Dignior, and Patrick McAlister by 24 votes as Dignissimus for selection by the Pope for the vacant bishopric. Also there were two votes for Richard Marner, 2 votes for Dr Henry Henry, president of the Diocesan College (St. Malachy's), and 1 vote for Michael Logue, Bishop of Raphoe.

McAlister was appointed bishop on 28 February 1886 and consecrated in St Patrick's Church, Belfast on Sunday, 28 March 1886.

The consecrating prelate was the Most Rev. Dr. Nulty, Bishop of Meath, who was assisted by the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Bishop of Clogher, and the Most Rev. Dr Woodlock, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the most Rev. Dr. Logue, Bishop of Raphoe. The Roman Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Dr. McGettigan, was present but on account of the state of his health did not officiate.

When McAlister, on 9 July 1886, made his first episcopal visitation of the parish of Ramoan, a deputation of the parishioners waited on him at the Parochial House for the purpose of reading to him an address and presenting him with a pectoral Cross and Chain. The following is a copy of the address : –

"My Lord, – It is with sentiments of the deepest filial affection that we, your own beloved parishioners, desire to bid your lordship a hearty welcome to-day, and to express our thanks that Almighty God, although depriving us of a loving pastor, has been pleased to place the mitre of this illustrious diocese on the head of one so learned so patriotic, and so holy".