John McMullen
Encyclopedia
John McMullen was a 19th-century bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States
. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
in the state of Iowa
from 1881 to 1883.
, Ireland
to James and Alice (Fitzsimmons) McMullen, and was one of ten children. When he was a little more than a year old his family immigrated to Canada
. In 1837 they moved to Ogdensburg, New York
and eventually they moved to Chicago. He was educated in the public school district and then parochial schools. He did his secondary and undergraduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago, graduating in 1852. He studied for the priesthood at the College of the Propaganda and the Urban College in Rome where he was also awarded a Doctor of Divinity
degree.
McMullen was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on June 20, 1858 for the Diocese of Chicago
. Archbishop Ligi-Bussi was the ordaining prelate. He served the diocese, and later archdiocese, for 25 years. He was initially assigned as an assistant at St. Mary's Cathedral. During this time he helped to establish the House of the Good Shepherd, which cared for women who had been prostitutes, as well as orphanages for both boys and girls. He would go door to door to beg for money to support the institutions. He was well known at the Cook County jail and Bridewell, a house of corrections. In addition to visiting the inmates he would bring newspapers, periodicals and books. He was known for his friendly demeanor and concern.
From 1861 to 1866 McMullen served as president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, during which time new facilities were built for the school. In 1865 he established the short-lived Catholic Monthly magazine while at the school. Unfortunately, the school suffered from lack of finances and all but the seminary department was closed in 1866. He then founded St. Louis and St. Paul's parishes in Chicago. McMullen accompanied Bishop James Duggan
as one of his theologians to the Second Council of Baltimore
. In 1868 he was sent to the Holy See
to represent the interests of the priests of Chicago after Bishop Duggan's mental illness became evident. He was named the pastor
of St. Rose of Lima parish in Wilmington, Illinois
and started a new parish in Braidwood
.
He was named pastor of the Church of the Holy Name in Chicago and had just spent $19,000 on renovations when the Great Chicago Fire
struck the city on October 8, 1871. Every structure McMullen had built in the city was destroyed. Once Father McMullen looked after his parishioners, he and other priests of the diocese traveled across the country and into Canada to raise funds to rebuild Chicago's churches, and to help the multitudes who were left homeless. He then built the present Holy Name Cathedral
, which was consecrated on November 21, 1875. In 1877 he was named vicar general
by Bishop Thomas Foley
. After Bishop Foley's death he was named administrator of the diocese, and was renamed vicar general after the arrival of Archbishop Patrick Feehan
.
of Dubuque and John Lancaster Spalding of Peoria.
Bishop McMullen chose St. Margaret's Church in Davenport to be his new cathedral and with zeal set to work to establish the new diocese. He was known for his simplicity of life. He did not own his own episcopal insignia or robes, but used those of the late Bishop Foley. Soon after arriving in Davenport he set out on a visitation of his diocese. He traveled by stage coach, buggy, lumber wagon, hand car and passenger coach on the train. While on visitation he administered the sacrament of Confirmation. By December 1881 he confirmed over 7,000 people, and by the end of 1882 the number rose to 13,000. McMullen called the diocese's first synod
in 1882 to set procedures and regulations for the new diocese. In September of the same year he founded St. Ambrose, a seminary
and school of commerce, for young men. Bishop McMullen's health soon failed, however. To try and find relief from his sufferings he attempted a trip to Rome, but only made it as far as New York
. He also traveled to California
where he fell gravely ill. A couple of months after his return to Davenport he died from stomach cancer
after serving the diocese for a little less than two years.
He was initially buried in the crypt of St. Margaret's Cathedral, and then his body was transferred to the crypt of Sacred Heart Cathedral after it was built. Finally, he and the other bishops who had been buried in the crypt were transferred to the Bishop's Circle of Mt. Calvary Cemetery
in Davenport.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Catholic Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from 1881 to 1883.
Early life
John McMullen was born in Ballynahinch, County DownCounty Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, 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...
to James and Alice (Fitzsimmons) McMullen, and was one of ten children. When he was a little more than a year old his family immigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1837 they moved to Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
and eventually they moved to Chicago. He was educated in the public school district and then parochial schools. He did his secondary and undergraduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago, graduating in 1852. He studied for the priesthood at the College of the Propaganda and the Urban College in Rome where he was also awarded a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree.
Ministry in Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
. Archbishop Ligi-Bussi was the ordaining prelate. He served the diocese, and later archdiocese, for 25 years. He was initially assigned as an assistant at St. Mary's Cathedral. During this time he helped to establish the House of the Good Shepherd, which cared for women who had been prostitutes, as well as orphanages for both boys and girls. He would go door to door to beg for money to support the institutions. He was well known at the Cook County jail and Bridewell, a house of corrections. In addition to visiting the inmates he would bring newspapers, periodicals and books. He was known for his friendly demeanor and concern.
From 1861 to 1866 McMullen served as president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, during which time new facilities were built for the school. In 1865 he established the short-lived Catholic Monthly magazine while at the school. Unfortunately, the school suffered from lack of finances and all but the seminary department was closed in 1866. He then founded St. Louis and St. Paul's parishes in Chicago. McMullen accompanied Bishop James Duggan
James Duggan
James Duggan was a Irish-American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Chicago from 1859 to 1869, officially resigning in 1880.-Early years:...
as one of his theologians to the Second Council of Baltimore
Plenary Councils of Baltimore
The Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three national meetings of Roman Catholic bishops in the 19th century in Baltimore, Maryland.During the early history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States all of the dioceses were part of one ecclesiastical province under the Archbishop of Baltimore...
. In 1868 he was sent to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to represent the interests of the priests of Chicago after Bishop Duggan's mental illness became evident. He was named the 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. Rose of Lima parish in Wilmington, Illinois
Wilmington, Illinois
Wilmington is the name of two places in the U.S. state of Illinois:*Wilmington, Greene County, Illinois*Wilmington, Will County, Illinois...
and started a new parish in Braidwood
Braidwood, Illinois
eBraidwood is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, approximately southwest of Chicago and south of Joliet. The population was 5,203 at the 2000 census....
.
He was named pastor of the Church of the Holy Name in Chicago and had just spent $19,000 on renovations when the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
struck the city on October 8, 1871. Every structure McMullen had built in the city was destroyed. Once Father McMullen looked after his parishioners, he and other priests of the diocese traveled across the country and into Canada to raise funds to rebuild Chicago's churches, and to help the multitudes who were left homeless. He then built the present Holy Name Cathedral
Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago
Holy Name Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Holy Name, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. It is also the parish church of the Archbishop of Chicago...
, which was consecrated on November 21, 1875. In 1877 he was named 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...
by Bishop Thomas Foley
Thomas Patrick Roger Foley
Thomas Patrick Roger Foley was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Coadjutor Bishop of Chicago from March 10, 1870 until his death on February 19, 1879....
. After Bishop Foley's death he was named administrator of the diocese, and was renamed vicar general after the arrival of Archbishop Patrick Feehan
Patrick Feehan
Archbishop Patrick Augustine Feehan , was a U.S. Catholic bishop. He served as the fifth Bishop and first Archbishop of Chicago between 1880 and 1902, during which the church in Chicago was elevated to an archdiocese. Prior to moving to Chicago, Feehan served as the third bishop of the Diocese of...
.
Bishop of Davenport
On June 14, 1881, Father John McMullen was appointed the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Davenport. He was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Feehan on July 25, 1881 in Holy Name Cathedral. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops John HennessyJohn Hennessy (Archbishop)
-External links:**...
of Dubuque and John Lancaster Spalding of Peoria.
Bishop McMullen chose St. Margaret's Church in Davenport to be his new cathedral and with zeal set to work to establish the new diocese. He was known for his simplicity of life. He did not own his own episcopal insignia or robes, but used those of the late Bishop Foley. Soon after arriving in Davenport he set out on a visitation of his diocese. He traveled by stage coach, buggy, lumber wagon, hand car and passenger coach on the train. While on visitation he administered the sacrament of Confirmation. By December 1881 he confirmed over 7,000 people, and by the end of 1882 the number rose to 13,000. McMullen called the diocese's first synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 1882 to set procedures and regulations for the new diocese. In September of the same year he founded St. Ambrose, a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and school of commerce, for young men. Bishop McMullen's health soon failed, however. To try and find relief from his sufferings he attempted a trip to Rome, but only made it as far as New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He also traveled to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he fell gravely ill. A couple of months after his return to Davenport he died from stomach cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
after serving the diocese for a little less than two years.
He was initially buried in the crypt of St. Margaret's Cathedral, and then his body was transferred to the crypt of Sacred Heart Cathedral after it was built. Finally, he and the other bishops who had been buried in the crypt were transferred to the Bishop's Circle of Mt. Calvary Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery (Davenport, Iowa)
Mount Calvary Cemetery is located in north-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established as St. Marguerite’s Cemetery in the 1850s on of property donated by Antoine LeClaire. At the time the cemetery lay outside the city of Davenport...
in Davenport.