John Joseph Nilan

John Joseph Nilan (August 1, 1855 – April 13, 1934) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1910 until his death in 1934.

John Joseph Nilan
Bishop of Hartford
In office	1910-1934
Orders
Ordination	December 21, 1878
Consecration	April 28, 1911 by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell
Personal details
Born	August 1, 1855 Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	April 13, 1934 (aged 78)
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Education	St. Joseph Seminary, Troy, New York
Motto	Dominus Firmamentum Meum

Biography

John Nilan was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and received his early education at the elementary and high schools in Newburyport.[1] After graduating from the college of Nicolet at Quebec, Canada, in 1875, he returned to the United States and then studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Troy, New York.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1878.[3] He engaged in pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Boston, first serving at Framingham and afterwards at St. James Church in Boston.[2] He was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Amesbury from 1892 to 1910.[2]

On February 14, 1910, Nilan was appointed the seventh Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, by Pope Pius X.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 28 from Cardinal William Henry O'Connell, with Bishops Louis Sebastian Walsh and Daniel Francis Feehan serving as co-consecrators.[3] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominus Firmamentum Meum" (Latin: "The Lord is My Foundation").[4] During his tenure, he concerned himself with fostering many ethnic parishes to serve Connecticut's diverse population.[5]

Nilan later died at St. Francis Hospital, aged 78, on April 13, 1934.

References

1. Pace, Edward A., ed. (1922). Catholic Encyclopedia. XVII. New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
2. "Named Bishop of Hartford". The New York Times. 1910-02-17.
3. "Bishop John Joseph Nilan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
4. "Former Archbishops". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.
5. "History of the Archdiocese". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01.

External links

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford