Myles McKeon

Contents

Myles McKeon (3 April 1919 – 2 May 2016) was an Irish-born Australian bishop who was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bunbury.[1]

Early life

McKeon was born in Drummin, County Mayo, Ireland to John and Bridget McKeon.[2] He was educated at St Jarlath's College, Tuam. He attended University College Dublin and studied for the priesthood All Hallows College, Dublin.

Priesthood

McKeon was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Perth on 22 June 1947 at All Hallows College, Dublin, by Bishop Henry Vincent Marshall of Salford. He arrived in Fremantle from London on 21 February 1948.[3]

He spent his first four years as assistant priest in Maylands before being appointed to St Mary's Cathedral, Perth as an assistant priest. He then began working in the mission and migration fields.[4] In February 1954, he was appointed Director of Pontifical Mission Aid Societies. In April 1960, he was made a Privy Chamberlain and given the title of Monsignor.[5]

Episcopate

On 23 May 1962 he was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of Perth and Titular Bishop of Antipyrgos.[6] He was consecrated as a bishop by Bishop Launcelot Goody at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth on 12 September 1962.[7]

On 6 March 1969, he was appointed Bishop of Bunbury.[8]

As bishop, he established the Busselton Catholic Youth Camp, brought the Carmelite Sisters from the Carmelite Sisters to establish a monastery at Gelorup, invited the Salvatorians to establish a presence in Esperance, amalgamated Mercy College for Girls and Marist College for boys into Bunbury Catholic College, established the Diocesan Development fund, established a permanent diaconate in the Diocese and established Centrecare in the Diocese.[9] He also introduced a number of other orders into the diocese, including the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Brothers of St Gerard Majella, and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers.[10]

Retirement and death

He resigned as Bishop of Bunbury on 18 February 1982, owing to ill-health, largely due to a spinal condition. He continued to work in the Diocese as Director of the Propagation of the Faith after his retirement.[11][12][13]

He spent his final years being cared for by the Sisters of St John of God in Subiaco.[14]

He died on 2 May 2016, at the age of 97, more than three decades after retiring as Bishop of Bunbury. His funeral was held at St Patrick's Cathedral, Bunbury, where his body is buried in the crypt.[15]

References

  1. 1.Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunbury Archived 2016-04-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 2."Vale Bishop Myles McKeon". Bunbury Catholic. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. 3."Incoming passenger list to Fremantle "Strathaird" arrived 21 February 1948". naa.gov.au. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  4. 4."The Most Rev Myles McKeon". bunburycatholic.org.au. Diocese of Bunbury. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  5. 5."Mission Director Appointed Auxiliary Bishop". The Record. 28 June 1962. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  6. 6."Bishop Myles McKeon †". catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  7. 7."Liturgical Splendour at Consecration". The Record. 13 September 1962. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  8. 8."Past Bishops". Bunbury Catholic. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. 9."The Most Rev Myles McKeon". bunburycatholic.org.au. Diocese of Bunbury. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  10. 10."Bishop's Ill Health Forces His Retirement". The Record. 25 February 1982. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  11. 11."The Most Rev Myles McKeon". bunburycatholic.org.au. Diocese of Bunbury. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  12. 12."Bishop Myles McKeon †". catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  13. 13."Bishop's Ill Health Forces His Retirement". The Record. 25 February 1982. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  14. 14."Vale Bishop Myles McKeon". Bunbury Catholic. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  15. 15."The Most Rev Myles McKeon". bunburycatholic.org.au. Diocese of Bunbury. Retrieved 3 August 2026.