Justin Simonds

Born in Glen Innes, New South Wales, Simonds was educated in Deepwater, Blacktown and then Sydney Boys' High School before studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Manly. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Michael Kelly on 30 November 1912 at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. Posted to Bega, Simonds served as a curate before he returned to St Patrick's Seminary as a professor of sacred scripture and Greek. In 1916 he was appointed to St Columba's College, Springwood, as professor of hermeneutics. In 1921 he returned to St Patrick's Seminary as professor of sacred scripture and dean. Between 1928 and 1930, Simonds studied at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, graduating in 1930 with a PhD (first class honours). Returning to Springwood, Simonds served as vice rector and then rector of St Columba's College from 1931 to 1937. ==Episcopacy==

On 18 February 1937, Pius XI appointed Simonds as Archbishop of Hobart. Simonds received his episcopal consecration on 6 May from Archbishop Giovanni Panico, with bishops Norman Gilroy and Patrick Joseph Farrelly serving as co-consecrators. Simonds was the first native-born Australian archbishop. During his term in Hobart, Simonds fostered the observance of Social Justice Sunday and wrote the first of the bishops' annual statements on social justice in 1940. Ill-health and age reduced Simonds' own period as Melbourne's archbishop, suffering several strokes while in office and his vision greatly deteriorated. He eventually resigned on 13 May 1967, after only three years of service. Upon his retirement, he was made titular Archbishop of Libertina. On 3 November 1967, Simonds died from a stroke at the Mercy Hospital in Melbourne, aged 77. He was buried in the crypt of St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne alongside his predecessor. ==Legacy==

Named in his honour are Justin Villa, the home in Melbourne for retired priests, and Simonds Catholic College in West Melbourne and Fitzroy North. ==References==