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John Joseph Nilan

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John Joseph Nilan
Bishop of Hartford
In office1910-1934
Orders
OrdinationDecember 21, 1878
ConsecrationApril 28, 1911
by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell
Personal details
Born(1855-08-01)August 1, 1855
Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedApril 13, 1934(1934-04-13) (aged 78)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationSt. Joseph Seminary, Troy, New York
MottoDominus Firmamentum Meum

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.

Biography

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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

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  1. ^ Pace, Edward A., ed. (1922). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. XVII. New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
  2. ^ a b c "Named Bishop of Hartford". The New York Times. 1910-02-17.
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop John Joseph Nilan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  4. ^ "Former Archbishops". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.
  5. ^ a b "Bishop Nilan Lauded By Secular Papers", The Catholic Transcript, Vol. XXXVI, Number 46, 19 April 1934
  6. ^ "History of the Archdiocese". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Hartford
1910–1934
Succeeded by