John Francis O'Hern

American prelate (1874–1933)

In officeJanuary 4, 1929 –
May 22, 1933

His Excellency, The Most Reverend John Francis O'Hern
Bishop of Rochester
Diocese	Diocese of Rochester
In office	January 4, 1929 – May 22, 1933
Predecessor	Thomas Francis Hickey
Successor	Edward Mooney
Orders
Ordination	February 17, 1901 by Pietro Respighi
Consecration	March 9, 1930 by Patrick Joseph Hayes
Personal details
Born	(1874-06-04)June 4, 1874 Olean, New York, US
Died	May 22, 1933(1933-05-22) (aged 58) Rochester, New York, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Patrick and Ellen (née Casey) O'Hern
Education	St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary St. Bernard's Seminary Pontifical North American College College of Propaganda

John Francis O'Hern (June 4, 1874 – May 22, 1933) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York State from 1929 until his death in 1933.

Early life

One of ten children, John O'Hern was born on June 4, 1874, in Olean, New York, to Patrick and Ellen (née Casey) O'Hern.^[1] Three of his brothers also entered the priesthood, and another served in the field staff of US Army General John J. Pershing during World War I.^[1] After graduating from Olean High School, John O'Hern attended St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary and St. Bernard's Seminary, both in Rochester, New York.

In 1897, O'Hern was sent to Rome to reside at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, later earning a Doctor of Divinity degree from the College of Propaganda.^[1]

Priesthood

O'Hern was ordained a priest in Rome for the Diocese of Rochester by Cardinal Pietro Respighi in Rome on February 17, 1901.^[2] Upon his return to Rochester, the diocese assigned him as curate at Immaculate Conception Parish. He was later transferred to St. Patrick's Cathedral Parish in Rochester, where he became pastor in 1908.^[1] O'Hern was named pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Rochester in 1921. Bishop Thomas Hickey named O'Hern as vicar general of the diocese in 1922.^[1]

Bishop of Rochester

On January 4, 1929, O'Hern was appointed the third bishop of Rochester by Pope Pius XI.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration at St. Patrick's Cathedral on March 9, 1929, from Cardinal Patrick Hayes, with Archbishop Edward Hanna and Bishop Thomas O'Reilly serving as co-consecrators.^[2] During his tenure as bishop, O'Hern worked toward establishing ecumenical ties with non-Catholics and promoting numerous associations of the laity.^[3] He supported the Community Chest and American Red Cross, and provided chaplains for Catholics attending secular colleges in the diocese.^[3]

John O'Hern died in Rochester on May 22, 1933, at age 58.^[2]

References

1 2 3 4 5 "Most Rev. John Francis O'Hern". Olean Times Herald. 1933-05-23.
1 2 3 4 "Bishop John Francis O'Hern". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
1 2 "Diocesan History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. Archived from the original on 2008-08-05.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Thomas Francis Hickey	Bishop of Rochester 1929–1933	Succeeded by Edward Mooney

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Ordinaries	Bishops Bernard John McQuaid Thomas Francis Hickey John Francis O'Hern Edward Mooney James E. Kearney Fulton J. Sheen Joseph Lloyd Hogan Matthew H. Clark Salvatore Ronald Matano Coadjutor bishop Thomas Francis Hickey Auxiliary bishops Lawrence B. Casey John Edgar McCafferty Dennis Walter Hickey
Churches	Cathedral Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rochester Parishes Immaculate Conception Church, Rochester Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, Rochester St. Charles Borromeo Church, Greece St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church Complex, Bloomfield Saint George Roman Catholic Lithuanian Church, Rochester St. Mary's Church, Rochester Saint Michael's Church, Rochester St. Rose Roman Catholic Church Complex, Lima Former parishes Our Mother of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church Complex, Greece St. Joseph's Church and Rectory, Rochester
Education	Seminary St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry, Pittsford Former seminaries Whitefriars Scholasticate, Auburn St. Michael's Divine Word Seminary, Conesus Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Geneva St. John's Atonement Seminary, Montour Falls Precious Blood Minor Seminary, Rochester St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary, Rochester St. Basil's Novitiate, Rochester Saint Bernard's Seminary, Rochester St. Anthony Minor Seminary, Watkins Glen High schools The Aquinas Institute of Rochester Bishop Kearney High School, Irondequoit McQuaid Jesuit High School, Brighton Notre Dame High School, Elmira Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, Brighton Former high schools Holy Family High School, Auburn Mount Carmel High School, Auburn Academy of Our Lady of Angels, Elmira Elmira Catholic High School, Elmira DeSales High School, Geneva Cardinal Mooney High School, Greece St. Ann's High School, Hornell St. Rose's High School, Lima Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Rochester Academy of St. Joseph, Rochester Academy of the Sacred Heart, Rochester Nazareth Academy, Rochester St. Agnes High School, Rochester St. Mary's High School, Rochester St. Joseph's Business High School, Rochester
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Priesthood

Bishop of Rochester

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