Connolly, John
Connolly, John
Second Bishop of New York, U.S.A., b. at Slane, Co. Meath, Ireland, 1750; d. New York, 6 February, 1825. He joined the Dominican Order in early youth and was sent to Rome, where, after ordination to the priesthood, he became professor at St. Clement’s, theologian of the Minerva, agent of the Irish Bishops, and Prior of St. Clement’s. Both Pius VI and Pius VII held him in high esteem. By his influence he saved the Irish, Scotch, and English colleges and his own convent, church, and library from being plundered by the French invaders. He was nominated Bishop of New York as successor to Bishop Concanen, who had desired his appointment in the first instance. He was consecrated in Rome, 6 November, 1814, but did not reach New York until 24 November, 1815. Despite advanced years and untoward circumstances, he did the fruitful work of both bishop and missionary almost to the day of his death. The diocese then included all New York and part of New Jersey, for which there were only four priests. He built several churches, founded an orphan asylum, and introduced the Sisters of Charity. Actively interested in religious progress throughout the country, he advocated the idea of a diocese in every state as the best means of promoting the cause of the Church.
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BAYLEY, A Brief Sketch of the Hist. of the Cath. Ch. on the Island of New York (New York, 1853); DE COURCY AND SHEA, History of the Cath. Ch. in the U.S. (New York, 1856); CLARKE, Lives of the Deceased Bishops (New York, 1872), I, 192; Catholic Miscellany (Charleston), files 1824 and 1825 passim.
VICTOR F. O’DANIEL Transcribed by Anthony J. Stokes
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IVCopyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, CensorImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Connolly, John
an eminent Roman Catholic prelate, was born on the banks of the Boyne, near Navan, Ireland, in 1750, and was educated in Belgium. At an early age he proceeded to Rome, and there spent most of his life in the convents of his order, that of St. Dominic. He was for many years agent in that city of the Irish bishops, and filled various chairs as professor.. He was selected by the cardinal-bishop of Albano as the examiner of candidates for the priesthood. In these duties he displayed great ability and virtue, and is remembered by his pupils as a man of gentleness of character. In 1814 he was appointed to succeed Concanen as the second bishop of New York, and was consecrated November 6 of that year. His diocese comprised! the state of New York and part of New Jersey, in which were thirteen thousand Catholics, three Jesuit fathers, and one secular priest. After a faithful episcopate, Connolly died in New York, February 6, 1825, and was succeeded by Dubois. See De Courcy and Shea, Hist. of the Cath. Church in the U.S. pages 375-388.