Mathias Clement Lenihan
Encyclopedia
Mathias Clement Lenihan, (October 6, 1854 - August 19, 1943) was a 20th century archbishop
in the Catholic Church
in the United States
. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls
in the state of Montana
from 1904-30.
, Lenihan was educated at St. Joseph College
in Dubuque, St. John's College in Prairie du Chien
, Wisconsin
and the Grand séminaire de Montréal
in Canada
. He was ordained a Catholic priest
on December 20, 1879 by for the Diocese of Dubuque
. He was the first native born Iowan to be ordained a priest. From the time of his ordination until 1904 he was involved in parish ministry in the diocese, and later archdiocese, of Dubuque. His first assignment was at Vail
and his second was at Marshalltown
. In Marshallton he founded St. Thomas Hospital in memory his brother, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Mathias Lenihan
, who had served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne
.
Saint Pius X named him to be the first bishop of Great Falls. He was consecrated a bishop on September 21, 1904 by Archbishop John Joseph Keane
of Dubuque. The co-consecrators were Bishops James John Keane
of Cheyenne
and Joseph Bernard Cotter
, of Winona
. He was installed on November 5, 1904 at St. Ann Cathedral
in Great Falls
.
Bishop Lenihan served the diocese for 26 years. He was involved in temperance reform, building the parochial school
system in the diocese, and constructing a new cathedral. The new St. Ann Cathedral in Great Falls
was dedicated on December 15, 1907. He was instrumental in establisheing an orphanage
staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Providence. The diocese also established several new parishes during his episcopate.
Pope Pius XI accepted his resignation as bishop of Great Falls on January 18, 1930. He was named Titular Archbishop of Preslavus on February 14, 1930. He retired to Dubuque and died there on August 19, 1943.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
in the 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is the Catholic diocese of eastern Montana, established in 1904.Pope Pius X erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena, which previously comprised the entire state....
in the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
from 1904-30.
Early Life & Ministry
Born in Dubuque, IowaDubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, Lenihan was educated at St. Joseph College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque, St. John's College in Prairie du Chien
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
, 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 the Grand séminaire de Montréal
Grand séminaire de Montréal
The Grand séminaire de Montréal is the sacerdotal school of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal. The institution was founded by the sulpicians in 1840 on the demands of Ignace Bourget. A branch of Université Laval's faculty of theology was installed in the seminar in 1878...
in 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...
. He was ordained a Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on December 20, 1879 by for the Diocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
. He was the first native born Iowan to be ordained a priest. From the time of his ordination until 1904 he was involved in parish ministry in the diocese, and later archdiocese, of Dubuque. His first assignment was at Vail
Vail, Iowa
Vail is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States. The population was 452 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Vail is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and his second was at Marshalltown
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
. In Marshallton he founded St. Thomas Hospital in memory his brother, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Mathias Lenihan
Thomas Mathias Lenihan
Thomas Mathias Lenihan was a late 19th and early 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne in the state of Wyoming from 1896-1901...
, who had served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
.
Bishop of Great Falls
On August 26, 1904 PopePope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Saint Pius X named him to be the first bishop of Great Falls. He was consecrated a bishop on September 21, 1904 by Archbishop John Joseph Keane
John Joseph Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American Roman Catholic archbishop in the late 19th and early 20th century.-Early Life & Ministry:...
of Dubuque. The co-consecrators were Bishops James John Keane
James Keane (Archbishop)
- External links :...
of Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
and Joseph Bernard Cotter
Joseph Bernard Cotter
Joseph Bernard Cotter was the first Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, in Winona, Minnesota....
, of Winona
Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona
The Diocese of Winona is the Roman Catholic diocese which ministers to the people of southern Minnesota. The diocese includes Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonowan,...
. He was installed on November 5, 1904 at St. Ann Cathedral
St. Ann's Cathedral (Great Falls, Montana)
St. Ann's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Great Falls, Montana, United States. Along with St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana it is the seat of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.-St. Ann's Parish:...
in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
.
Bishop Lenihan served the diocese for 26 years. He was involved in temperance reform, building the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
system in the diocese, and constructing a new cathedral. The new St. Ann Cathedral in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
was dedicated on December 15, 1907. He was instrumental in establisheing an 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...
staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Providence. The diocese also established several new parishes during his episcopate.
Pope Pius XI accepted his resignation as bishop of Great Falls on January 18, 1930. He was named Titular Archbishop of Preslavus on February 14, 1930. He retired to Dubuque and died there on August 19, 1943.