John Francis Cunningham
Encyclopedia
John Francis Cunningham (June 20, 1842—June 23, 1919) was an Irish
-born prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Concordia
from 1898 until his death in 1919.
, and received his early education in Listowel. After coming to the United States
in 1860, he enrolled at St. Benedict's College
in Atchison
, Kansas
. He completed his theological
studies at St. Francis' Seminary in Milwaukee
, Wisconsin
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop John Baptiste Miège
, S.J.
, on August 8, 1865.
Cunningham carried out his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Leavenworth
, where was charged by Bishop Louis Mary Fink
, O.S.B.
, with securing funds to pay off the remaining debt on the cathedral
and with helping Kansan settlers during the depressed
economy of the period. He was pastor
of the Church of the Assumption in Topeka
from 1877 until 1881, when he became vicar general
. He also served as rector
of the cathedral.
On May 14, 1898, Cunningham was appointed the second Bishop of Concordia
by Pope Leo XIII
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following September 21 from Archbishop John Joseph Kain
, with Bishops John Joseph Hennessy
and Thomas Bonacum
serving as co-consecrators
, at Leavenworth. Described as the "Diocesan Builder," Cunningham erected 54 churches, 22 schools, and three hospitals during his tenure. He also dedicated the cathedral and laid the cornerstone
for the Nazareth Motherhouse in 1902, and founded Hays Catholic College
and St. Joseph's Orphanage
in addition to several rectories
and convent
s.
Cunningham died after an extended illness, aged 76. He was buried in the Nazareth Cemetery at Concordia.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Concordia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
from 1898 until his death in 1919.
Biography
John Cunningham was born in Irremore, County KerryCounty Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, and received his early education in Listowel. After coming to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1860, he enrolled at St. Benedict's College
Benedictine College
Benedictine College is a co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is a Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential college located on bluffs overlooking the...
in Atchison
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. He completed his theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
studies at St. Francis' Seminary in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop John Baptiste Miège
John Baptiste Miège
John Baptist Miège, born on September 18, 1815 in La Foret and died July 21, 1884 in Woodstock, Maryland , was an Italian Savoyard Jesuit priest. He served as Vicar Apostolic of Kansas from 1851 to 1874.-Early life:...
, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, on August 8, 1865.
Cunningham carried out his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Leavenworth
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in Kansas. The original diocese was formed on May 22, 1877 as the Diocese of Leavenworth...
, where was charged by Bishop Louis Mary Fink
Louis Mary Fink
Louis Mary Fink, O.S.B. was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Leavenworth .-Biography:...
, O.S.B.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, with securing funds to pay off the remaining debt on the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
and with helping Kansan settlers during the depressed
Depression (economics)
In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is seen by some economists as part of the modern business cycle....
economy of the period. He was pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Church of the Assumption in Topeka
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
from 1877 until 1881, when he became vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
. He also served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the cathedral.
On May 14, 1898, Cunningham was appointed the second Bishop of Concordia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following September 21 from Archbishop John Joseph Kain
John Joseph Kain
John Joseph Kain was a Roman Catholic priest who would eventually become Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis, and the first native-born American to hold that office.-Biography:...
, with Bishops John Joseph Hennessy
John Joseph Hennessy
John Joseph Hennessy was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Wichita, Kansas .-Biography:...
and Thomas Bonacum
Thomas Bonacum
Thomas Bonacum was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln.He started as the rector of the Church of the Holy Name in St. Louis, Missouri...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at Leavenworth. Described as the "Diocesan Builder," Cunningham erected 54 churches, 22 schools, and three hospitals during his tenure. He also dedicated the cathedral and laid the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
for the Nazareth Motherhouse in 1902, and founded Hays Catholic College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and St. Joseph's Orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
in addition to several rectories
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
and convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
s.
Cunningham died after an extended illness, aged 76. He was buried in the Nazareth Cemetery at Concordia.