George W. Ahr

George William Ahr (June 23, 1904 – May 5, 1993) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Trenton from 1950 to 1979.

Biography[]

George Ahr was born in Newark, New Jersey, and attended St. Ann's Grammar School and St. Benedict's Preparatory School.^[1] He then studied at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and, returning to New Jersey, at Seton Hall University in South Orange.^[1] After completing his theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical North American College, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 29, 1928.^[2] He later earned a doctorate in sacred theology in 1929.^[1]

Following his return to the United States, Ahr did pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Newark, where he first served as a curate at St. Mary's Church in Jersey City.^[1] He later served at St. Venantius Church in Orange until 1930, when he became a professor at Seton Hall Preparatory School.^[1] He was named professor of dogmatic theology (1933) and later rector (1947) at Immaculate Conception Seminary.^[1]

On January 28, 1950, Ahr was appointed the seventh Bishop of Trenton by Pope Pius XII.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 20 from Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh, with Bishops Bartholomew J. Eustace and Thomas A. Boland serving as co-consecrators.^[2] During his tenure, he increased the number of Catholics from 300,000 to 850,000, and founded 50 parishes and dedicated 100 new churches, 90 schools, and over 60 other buildings.^[1] He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. He perceived a growing anti-clericalism in the United States,^[3] and opposed the Christian Layman's Experimental Organization.^[4]

After twenty-nine years as bishop, Ahr retired on June 23, 1979; he was the longest-serving bishop of Trenton.^[2] He later died at Morris Hall Home of the Aged in Lawrenceville, aged 88.^[1]

St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison was named in his honor from 1983 to 2019.

References[]