Anthony O'Regan
The Right Reverend Anthony O'Regan | |
|---|---|
| Bishop-Emeritus of Chicago Titular Bishop of Dora | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic |
| Archdiocese | Chicago |
| Appointed | 9 December 1853 |
| Predecessor | James Oliver Van de Velde, S.J. |
| Successor | James Duggan |
| Previous post(s) | Apostolic Administrator of Quincy (1853-1857) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 November 1834 by John MacHale |
| Consecration | 25 July 1854 by Peter Kenrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1809 Lavalleyroe, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | 13 November 1866 (aged 57) London, England |
| Alma mater | Maynooth College |
Anthony O'Regan (27 July 1809 – 13 November 1866) was an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Chicago in the United States from 1854 to 1858.
Biography
[edit]Anthony O'Regan was born in Lavalleyroe, County Mayo,[1] and studied at Maynooth College in Maynooth, Ireland.
O'Regan was ordained to the priesthood on 29 November 1834 for the Archdiocese of Tuam in Tuam, Ireland, by Archbishop John MacHale. [2]Following his 1834 ordination, MacHale appointed O'Regan as professor of Scripture, Hebrew and dogmatic theology at St. Jarlath's College in Tuam. He was named president of the college in 1844.[3]
In 1849, Archbishop Peter Kenrick of the Archdiocese of St. Louis recruited O'Regan to head the newly-established theological seminary in Cardondelet, then a village near St. Louis, Missouri.[3]
On 9 December 1853, O'Regan was appointed the third bishop of Chicago by Pope Pius IX. Feeling that he lacked the pastoral experience to run a diocese, O'Regan refused the appointment. However, when the pope told him to accept it, O'Regan acquiesced. [4] He received his episcopal consecration on 25 July 1854, from Archbishop Kenrick, with Bishops James Oliver Van de Velde, and John Henni serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Louis.[1]
After a severe spell of nervous debility, he finally reached Chicago and was solemnly installed as Bishop on the following 3 September.[2] [5]He soon began construction on a new episcopal residence, completed in 1856 but later destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.[4]
During his tenure, O'Regan established the Jesuits and the Redemptorists, and purchased property for several churches and Calvary Cemetery. A systematic administrator and strong disciplinarian, however, he excited much dissatisfaction among his clergy.[5] He was also accused of discriminating against his French-speaking congregations.[4][6] Distressed by the frequent opposition his administration met, he submitted his resignation in 1857; the Holy See accepted on 25 June 1858,[1] and named him Titular Bishop of Dora.[2]
O'Regan retired to London, England, where he befriended the likes of Nicholas Wiseman and Henry Edward Manning, and later died from liver disease at age 57.[4] His funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop MacHale at Tuam Cathedral, and his remains were buried in Cloonfad.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Meet the previous leaders of the church in Chicago", Chicago Catholic, 27 November 2016
- ^ a b c "Bishop Anthony O'Regan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ a b "Archdiocese of Chicago". Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Clarke, Richard Henry. Lives of the deceased bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States.
- ^ a b Garraghan, Gilbert Joseph. The Catholic Church in Chicago, 1673–1871.
- ^ "Founding Fathers". Hidden Truths: Catholic Cemetery.
