Joseph Francis McGrath

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Joseph Francis McGrath
Bishop of Baker City
In office1919-1950
Orders
OrdinationDecember 21, 1895
ConsecrationMarch 25, 1919
by Bishop Edward John O'Dea
Personal details
Born(1871-03-03)March 3, 1871
Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Ireland
DiedApril 12, 1950(1950-04-12) (aged 79)
NationalityIrish
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationGrand Seminary of Montreal

Joseph Francis McGrath (March 3, 1871—April 12, 1950) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Baker City, Oregon from 1919 to 1950.

Biography[]

Joseph McGrath was born in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Ireland and did his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1895.[2] He served as a curate in the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, before doing missionary work among the Native Americans in Northern Michigan for two years.[1] He then went to Washington, where he served as a curate at the Cathedral of Seattle and afterwards as rector of St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma.[1]

On December 21, 1918, McGrath was appointed the second Bishop of Baker City by Pope Benedict XV.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on March 25, 1919 from Bishop Edward John O'Dea, with Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and John Patrick Carroll serving as co-consecrators.[2] He headed the diocese for thirty-one years, making him the longest-serving bishop in diocesan history. He died at age 79.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1947). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. VII. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Joseph Francis McGrath". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Baker City
1919—1950 		Succeeded by
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