William O'Hara
Right Rev. William O'Hara | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Scranton | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Scranton |
| In office | July 12, 1868—February 3, 1899 |
| Predecessor | New creation |
| Successor | Michael John Hoban |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 21, 1842 |
| Consecration | July 12, 1868 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1816 Dungiven, County Londonderry, Ireland |
| Died | February 3, 1899 (aged 82) Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States |
William O'Hara (April 14, 1816 – February 3, 1899) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania (1868–1899). O'Hara is credited as the founder of St. Thomas College, which is now known as the University of Scranton.
Early life[]
O'Hara was born in Dungiven, County Londonderry, he came with his parents to the United States in 1820, settling at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
Education[]
After attending Georgetown College in 1832, he was sent by Bishop Francis Kenrick to study at the College of the Propaganda in Rome.[2] He there earned his Doctor of Divinity degree with the highest honors.[2] While in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni on December 21, 1842.[3]
Service[]
O'Hara, following his return to Pennsylvania, was named a curate at St. Patrick's Church in Philadelphia.[4] He then served as rector and professor of moral theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.[4] He became pastor of St. Patrick's Church in 1856, and vicar general of the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1860.[1]
Bishop[]
On March 3, 1868, O'Hara was appointed the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Scranton by Pope Pius IX.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 12 from Bishop James Frederick Wood, with Bishops William Henry Elder and Patrick N. Lynch serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul.[3] At the time of O'Hara's arrival in Scranton the following September, there were only 24 priests and parishes.[5] By the time of his death 30 years later, there were 152 priests, 100 parishes, and 32 parochial schools.[5] He also founded St. Thomas College (later University of Scranton), an orphanage, and a hospital.[5]
Death[]
O'Hara died after a long illness in Scranton, aged 82.[2] He is buried under the main altar of St. Peter's Cathedral.[4]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). "The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922". The Catholic University of America Studies in American Church History. Washington, D.C. IV.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "BISHOP O'HARA DEAD". The New York Times. 1899-02-04.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bishop William O'Hara". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Brennan, Andrew (1912). "Scranton". Catholic Encyclopedia. XIII. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bishop William O'Hara: 1868-1899". Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton.
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- 1816 births
- 1899 deaths
- University of Scranton
- Georgetown University alumni
- People from County Londonderry
- 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Roman Catholic bishops in Pennsylvania
- Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)