Eugene J. McGuinness

Eugene McGuinness was born on September 6, 1889, in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, to Daniel and Mary (née Flood) McGuinness.[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of Holy Infancy Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[1] He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then earned Doctor of Both Laws and Doctor of Sacred Theology degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines.[1]

McGuinness was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Archbishop Edmond Prendergast on May 22, 1915.[2] He then served as a curate at St. Paul's Parish, St. Agatha's Parish, St. John's Parish, and at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, all in Philadelphia.[1] McGuinness was assistant director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith (1917–1919), and field secretary (1919–1920) as well as vice-president (1920–1924) of the Catholic Church Extension Society.[1] McGuinness served as executive secretary of the American Board of Catholic Missions (1923–1937), and was named a domestic prelate by the Vatican in 1929.[1]

On October 13, 1937, McGuinness was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on December 21, 1937, from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, with Bishops William O'Brien and Hugh L. Lamb serving as co-consecrators.[2]

McGuinness was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa and titular bishop of Ilium on November 11, 1944, by Pope Pius XII.[2] After the death of Bishop Francis Kelley on February 1, 1948, McGuinness automatically succeeded him as the third Bishop of Oklahoma City-Tulsa.[2] During his nine-year administration, McGuinness saw the Catholic population in the state grow by almost 40 percent and received 1,242 adult converts in 1957 alone.[3] Priestly and religious vocations flourished, and he made trips to Ireland and Poland to recruit clergy.[3]

Eugene McGuinness died on December 27, 1957, at age 68.