John Hennessy (archbishop)

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Archbishop John Hennessy, the third Bishop and first Archbishop of Dubuque.

For other people named John Hennessy, see John Hennessy.

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Archbishop John Hennessy, DD (b. August 20, 1825, Bulgaden, Ireland - d. March 4, 1900, Dubuque, Iowa) was the third Bishop of the Diocese of Dubuque, and became the first Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa when the Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese.

John Hennessy was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Saint Louis on November 1, 1850. Fr. Hennessy was named the third Bishop of Dubuque on April 24, 1866. He was ordained and installed as Bishop on September 30, 1866.

During his tenure as Bishop, and then as Archbishop, Hennessy oversaw the expansion of the Diocese. As the state of Iowa was settled, Hennessy created a number of parishes, schools, and other church institutions to serve the expanding Catholic population. When Hennessy first became Bishop, the territory of the Diocese encompassed the entire state. He became convinced that the Diocese should be divided in two. While Hennessy envisioned a new See with Des Moines, Iowa as its headquarters, in 1881 the Diocese of Davenport was created.

On June 15, 1893, the Diocese of Dubuque was elevated to an Archdiocese. When this happened, Bishop John Hennessy became Archbishop John Hennessy. He served as Archbishop until his death in 1900, aged 74.

In the last years of his life, Hennessy requested that a mortuary chapel be built in St. Raphael's Cathedral. This new chapel was built in the basement of the Cathedral. The remains of Bishops Mathias Loras, Clement Smyth, and Hennessy were brought to the Cathedral and buried in this new chapel, which was completed in 1902.

[edit] Legacy

Archbishop Hennessy is one of the more prominent figures in the history of the Archdiocese, as the latter half of the 19th century was a period of growth for the Archdiocese, and as he also served as the leader of the Archdiocese for over 30 years. Loras College honored Hennessy by naming one of its buildings after him.

A stained glass window in St. Joseph Church in Sioux City, Iowa contains a portrait of Archbishop Hennessy.

[edit] References

• FORMER BISHOPS/ARCHBISHOPS(Most Rev. John Hennessy, DD, named Bishop of Dubuque Apr. 24, 1866; ordained Sep. 30, 1866; promoted to Archbishop of Dubuque June 16, 1893; died Mar. 4, 1900.)