Thomas Mathias Lenihan
Encyclopedia
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. He was an older brother to the first bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls
, Mathias Clement Lenihan
.
, County Cork
, Ireland
, Lenihan was educated at St. Thomas College in Bardstown, Kentucky
, St. Vincent's Seminary in Cape Girardeau
, Missouri
and St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. He was ordained a Catholic priest
for the Diocese of Dubuque
, Iowa
on November 19, 1868. He was involved in parish ministry while a priest in the diocese, and later, archdiocese of Dubuque.
Leo XIII named him the second bishop of Cheyenne. He was consecrated a bishop on February 24, 1897 by Archbishop John Hennessy
of Dubuque
. The co-consecrators were Bishops Henry Cosgrove
of Davenport
and Thomas Bonacum
of Lincoln
. The Cheyenne diocese had been without a bishop for almost four years when his predecessor, Bishop Maurice Francis Burke
, left to become bishop of Saint Joseph
, Missouri
. Bishop Lenihan, however, was a man of poor health that was made worse by Wyoming's high altitude and dryness. He was restricted in what he could accomplish and returned to Iowa where he died. He was the bishop of the diocese for 5 years.
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...
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 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...
in the state of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
from 1896-1901. He was an older brother to the first 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....
, Mathias Clement Lenihan
Mathias Clement Lenihan
Mathias Clement Lenihan, 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.-Early Life & Ministry:...
.
Early life & Ministry
Born in MallowMallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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...
, Lenihan was educated at St. Thomas College in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
, St. Vincent's Seminary in Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, 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...
. 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...
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. ...
, 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...
on November 19, 1868. He was involved in parish ministry while a priest in the diocese, and later, archdiocese of Dubuque.
Bishop of Cheyenne
On November 30, 1896 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...
Leo XIII named him the second bishop of Cheyenne. He was consecrated a bishop on February 24, 1897 by Archbishop John Hennessy
John Hennessy (Archbishop)
-External links:**...
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. ...
. The co-consecrators were Bishops Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove was a late 19th century and early 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the second bishop of Diocese of Davenport, in the state of Iowa from 1884-1906....
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...
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...
of Lincoln
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln is a Roman Catholic diocese in Nebraska, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was established on August 2, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII...
. The Cheyenne diocese had been without a bishop for almost four years when his predecessor, Bishop Maurice Francis Burke
Maurice Francis Burke
Maurice Francis Burke was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Cheyenne and Bishop of Saint Joseph .-Biography:...
, left to become bishop of Saint Joseph
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on September 10, 1880, as the Diocese of Kansas City, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. ...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Bishop Lenihan, however, was a man of poor health that was made worse by Wyoming's high altitude and dryness. He was restricted in what he could accomplish and returned to Iowa where he died. He was the bishop of the diocese for 5 years.