John James Joseph Monaghan
Encyclopedia
John James Joseph Monaghan (May 23, 1856—January 7, 1935) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Wilmington
from 1897 to 1925.
, South Carolina
, to Thomas and Margaret (née Bogan) Monaghan, who immigrated from Ireland
in 1850. He graduated from St. Charles College
at Ellicott City
, Maryland
, in 1876, and then studied theology
at St. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore. Returning to South Carolina, he was ordained
to the priesthood
on December 19, 1880. He first served as a curate
at St. Joseph's Church and afterwards St. Patrick's, both in Charleston
. He was pastor
of St. Mary's in Greenville
(1882-1887) and pro-rector
of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and chancellor
of the Diocese of Charleston
(1887-1888). From 1888 to 1897, he was assistant to the vicar general
at St. Patrick's Church.
On January 26, 1897, Monaghan was appointed the third Bishop of Wilmington
, Delaware
, by Pope Leo XIII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following May 9 from Cardinal James Gibbons, with Bishops Alfred Allen Paul Curtis
and Henry Pinckney Northrop serving as co-consecrators
. During his tenure, he established seven parishes, seven missions, and eight schools. He also founded a home for the aged, the Salesianum School
for boys, and St. Francis Hospital. After twenty-eight years as bishop, he resigned due to poor health on July 10, 1925; he was named Titular Bishop
of Lydda by Pope Pius XI
on the same date. Monaghan later died at age 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
from 1897 to 1925.
Biography
John Monaghan was born in SumterSumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, to Thomas and Margaret (née Bogan) Monaghan, who immigrated from Ireland
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...
in 1850. He graduated from St. Charles College
St. Charles College, Maryland
St. Charles College was a seminary college in Catonsville, Maryland, originally from Ellicott City, Maryland.- 1776:Charles Carroll of Carrollton signs the Declaration of Independence for Maryland. One of the wealthiest men in the Americas, Carroll staked his fortune on the American Revolution...
at Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, in 1876, and then studied theology
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...
at St. Mary's Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore. Returning to South Carolina, he 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....
on December 19, 1880. He first served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Joseph's Church and afterwards St. Patrick's, both in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. 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 St. Mary's in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
(1882-1887) and pro-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 of St. John the Baptist and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Diocese of Charleston
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States and comprises the entire state of South Carolina, with Charleston as its see city. Currently, the diocese consists of 92 parishes and 24 missions...
(1887-1888). From 1888 to 1897, he was assistant to the 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...
at St. Patrick's Church.
On January 26, 1897, Monaghan was appointed the third Bishop of Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, 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
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....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following May 9 from Cardinal James Gibbons, with Bishops Alfred Allen Paul Curtis
Alfred Allen Paul Curtis
Alfred Allen Paul Curtis was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington and Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore .-Biography:...
and Henry Pinckney Northrop 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...
. During his tenure, he established seven parishes, seven missions, and eight schools. He also founded a home for the aged, the Salesianum School
Salesianum
Salesianum School is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys, located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. Salesianum was founded in 1903 and is operated by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales...
for boys, and St. Francis Hospital. After twenty-eight years as bishop, he resigned due to poor health on July 10, 1925; he was named Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Lydda by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
on the same date. Monaghan later died at age 78.