Joseph Basil Roper
{{Short description|Australian Roman Catholic priest}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Joseph Basil Roper
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Bishop of Toowoomba
| image =Joseph Basil Roper, Roman Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba, 1938.jpg
| caption =Bishop Roper, 1938
| province = Brisbane
| diocese = Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
| see =
| enthroned =
| ended =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| other_post = Titular Bishop of Elusa
| ordination = 30 November 1911
| consecration =28 October 1938
| cardinal =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1888|3|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|7|28|1888|3|9|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = Australian
| religion = Roman Catholic Church
| residence =
| parents =
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| profession = Cleric
| alma_mater =
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}}
Joseph Basil Roper was a Roman Catholic priest in Australia. He was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba in Queensland.
Early life
Roper was born on 9 March 1888 at Dennington near Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/broper.html|title=Bishop Joseph Basil Roper|website=The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church|access-date=5 July 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.twb.catholic.org.au/bishops/bishoproper.html|title=Most Reverend Joseph Basil Roper, DD|website=Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705064919/http://www.twb.catholic.org.au/bishops/bishoproper.html|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=live|access-date=5 July 2017}} There he attended St Ann's College, run by the Sisters of Mercy and then transferred to the Christian Brothers' College in 1902 which had been established for boys in that year.
Religious life
In 1906, Roper commenced his training for the priesthood at St Patrick's Seminary in Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, where he was one of their most brilliant students.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187439503|title=Bishop Roper to Retire Through Failing Health|date=29 October 1952|issue=10,366|location=Queensland, Australia|page=8|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=Warwick Daily News|accessdate=5 July 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147083828|title=Toowoomba Bishop Relinquishes See|date=6 November 1952|issue=558|location=New South Wales|volume=XI |page=1|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=Catholic Weekly|accessdate=5 July 2017}} On 30 November 1911 Roper was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney and commenced his service in the Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria.
On 13 July 1938 he was appointed as Bishop of Toowoomba in Queensland, being consecrated on 18 October 1938 at St Patrick's Cathedral in Ballarat in a service led by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix. He was then enthroned at St Patrick's Cathedral in Toowoomba on 20 November 1938 in a service led by Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167709349|title=CONSECRATION OF BISHOP ROPER OF BALLARAT|date=11 November 1938|issue=2530|location=South Australia|volume=L |page=17|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Southern Cross|accessdate=5 July 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104366991|title=ENTHRONEMENT OF DR. ROPER.|date=1 December 1938|issue=2237|location=New South Wales|page=25|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Catholic Press|accessdate=5 July 2017}}
As bishop, he was characterised for his efforts to get to know people. He increased the number of parishes in the diocese from 19 to 32.
Later life
File:Joseph Basil Roper, 1953.jpg
In October 1952, Roper announced his retirement due to his failing health not being able to cope with the demands of his role, but continued in an administrative capacity until he was replaced. He was then appointed as Titular Bishop of Elusa. He retired to Ararat in Victoria, where he died on 28 July 1964.
References
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External links
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