John Joseph Nilan
John Joseph Nilan | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Hartford | |
 | |
| In office | 1910-1934 |
| Predecessor | Michael Tierney |
| Successor | Maurice F. McAuliffe |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 21, 1878 by John McCloskey |
| Consecration | April 28, 1911 by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1855 Newburyport, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | April 13, 1934 (aged 78) |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Education | St. Joseph Seminary, Troy, New York |
| Motto | Dominus firmamentum meum (The Lord is my foundation) |
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
[edit]Early life
[edit]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 Nicolet College Seminary in Nicolet, Quebec, in 1875, he continued his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Troy, New York.[2]
Priesthood
[edit]Nilan was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston by Cardinal John McCloskey at St. Joseph on December 21, 1878.[3] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Nilan to serve as a pastor at a parish in Framingham, then afterwards at St. James Parish in Boston.[2] He was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Amesbury from 1892 to 1910.[2]
Bishop of Hartford
[edit]On February 14, 1910, Nilan was appointed the seventh bishop of Hartford by Pope Pius X.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on April 28, 1910, from Cardinal William Henry O'Connell, with Bishops Louis Sebastian Walsh and Daniel Francis Feehan serving as co-consecrators.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominus firmamentum meum" (Latin: "The Lord is my foundation").[5] One of his first acts as bishop was the establishment of a home for orphan children.[6]
During his tenure, he concerned himself with fostering many ethnic parishes to serve Connecticut's diverse population.[7]
Nilan died at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, on April 13, 1934.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ Pace, Edward A., ed. (1922). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. XVII. New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
- 1 2 3 "Named Bishop of Hartford". The New York Times. 1910-02-17.
- ↑ "Bishop John Joseph Nilan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- 1 2 "Bishop John Joseph Nilan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
- ↑ "Former Archbishops". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.
- 1 2 "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.
