John Joseph Nilan
John Joseph Nilan (August 1, 1855 – April 13, 1934) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1910 until his death in 1934.
John Joseph Nilan | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Hartford | |
| In office | 1910-1934 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 21, 1878 |
| Consecration | April 28, 1911 by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1855 Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 13, 1934 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Education | St. Joseph Seminary, Troy, New York |
| Motto | Dominus Firmamentum Meum |
Biography
John Nilan was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and received his early education at the elementary and high schools in Newburyport.[1] After graduating from the college of Nicolet at Quebec, Canada, in 1875, he returned to the United States and then studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Troy, New York.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1878.[3] He engaged in pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Boston, first serving at Framingham and afterwards at St. James Church in Boston.[2] He was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Amesbury from 1892 to 1910.[2]
On February 14, 1910, Nilan was appointed the seventh Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, by Pope Pius X.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 28 from Cardinal William Henry O'Connell, with Bishops Louis Sebastian Walsh and Daniel Francis Feehan serving as co-consecrators.[3] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominus Firmamentum Meum" (Latin: "The Lord is My Foundation").[4] One of his first acts as bishop was the establishment of a home for orphan children.[5]
During his tenure, he concerned himself with fostering many ethnic parishes to serve Connecticut's diverse population.[6]
Nilan later died at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, on April 13, 1934.[5]
References
- Pace, Edward A., ed. (1922). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. XVII. New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
- "Named Bishop of Hartford". The New York Times. 1910-02-17.
- "Bishop John Joseph Nilan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- "Former Archbishops". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.
- "Bishop Nilan Lauded By Secular Papers", The Catholic Transcript, Vol. XXXVI, Number 46, 19 April 1934
- "History of the Archdiocese". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01.
