Bernard Cornelius O'Riley was ordained priest on 1 November 1890 for the Apostolic Vicariate of the Western Cape of Good Hope.[1][2]
On 15 July 1925, Pope Pius XI appointed him Titular Bishop of Phoba and Apostolic Vicar of the Western Cape of Good Hope. The Apostolic Vicar of the Eastern Cape of Good Hope, Hugh McSherry, consecrated him Episcopalian on 6 January 1926 in St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Town; co-consecrators were the Apostolic Vicar of Natal, Henri Delalle OMI, and the Apostolic Vicar of Transvaal, David O'Leary OMI.[1][2]
On June 6, 1932, Pope Pius XI accepted the resignation of Bernard Cornelius O'Riley.[1][2]