Thomas McGovern (bishop)
Right Reverend Thomas Francis McGovern | |
---|---|
Bishop | |
![]() The Bishop Thomas McGovern | |
Diocese | Diocese of Harrisburg[1] |
Appointed | December 6, 1887 |
Predecessor | Jeremiah F. Shanahan |
Successor | John W. Shanahan |
Orders | |
Ordination | December 27, 1861 by James Frederick Bryan Wood[1][2] |
Consecration | March 11, 1888 by William O'Hara[1][2] |
Personal details | |
Born | Swanlinbar, County Cavan, Ireland | April 10, 1832
Died | July 25, 1898 | (aged 66)
Buried | Mount Calvary Cemetery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
Nationality | American |
Previous post(s) | Priest of Philadelphia (1861-1887) |
Education | Saint Joseph College[2] |
Alma mater | |
Motto | Forti salus in fide[2] (A strong faith in your salvation) |
Thomas McGovern (April 10, 1832—July 25, 1898) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (1888-1898).
Biography[]
McGovern was born in the townland of Drumbar (Kinawley),[3] Swanlinbar, County Cavan, and came to the United States with his parents in 1833, settling in Albany Township, Pennsylvania.[4] In 1855 he entered Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[4] He completed his theological studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and was ordained a priest by Bishop James Wood on December 27, 1861.[1]
After serving at Pottstown and Douglassville, he was named a curate at St. Michael's Church and later St. Philip's Church in Philadelphia.[4] He was pastor of Bellefonte from 1864 until 1870, when he was transferred to St. Patrick's Church in York.[4] In 1873, he was appointed to Danville. From 1881 to 1882, he went to Europe, Africa and Asia to regain his health.[4]
On December 6, 1887, McGovern was appointed Bishop of Harrisburg by Pope Leo XIII.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on March 11, 1888, from Bishop William O'Hara, with Bishops Richard Gilmour and John Ambrose Watterson serving as co-consecrators.[1] During his tenure, he erected twelve parishes, mostly designated for the various ethnic groups.[2] He died at age 66.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Thomas McGovern †". Catholic-Hierarchy. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 30 March 2015.[self-published source]
- ^ a b c d e f "Right Reverend Thomas McGovern – Biography". Diocese of Harrisburg. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ [1] pp. xlii-xliii
- ^ a b c d e William, Harry I.; Egle, Henry; Dudley, Adolphus S.; Huber, I.; Schively, Rebecca H. (1896). Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers (Thomas McGOVERN, Dauphin County, PA ed.). Chambersburg, Pa: J. M. Runk & Company. pp. 268–273. Archived from the original on 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- 1832 births
- 1898 deaths
- People from County Cavan
- Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)
- Mount St. Mary's University alumni
- St. Charles Borromeo Seminary alumni
- Roman Catholic bishops of Harrisburg
- 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Catholic Church in Pennsylvania