James Augustine McFaul

James Augustine McFaul (June 6, 1850—June 16, 1917) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Trenton from 1894 until his death in 1917.

Biography

James McFaul was born in Larne, County Antrim, to James and Mary (née Hefferman) McFaul.[1] He and his parents to the United States when he was only a few months old, residing at New York City for four years before settling in Bound Brook, New Jersey.[1] He worked on his father's farm and at age fifteen became a clerk at a country store near Bound Brook.[2] With the intention of becoming a lawyer, he attended St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, from 1867 to 1871.[2] He completed his classical studies at St. Francis Xavier's College in New York City in 1873, and then studied theology at Seton Hall College in South Orange, New Jersey.[1]

McFaul was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Michael Corrigan on May 26, 1877.[3] He then served as a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Newark until 1879, when he was transferred to St. Mary's Cathedral in Trenton.[2] He was named private secretary to Bishop Michael J. O'Farrell in 1882, and pastor of the Church of St. Mary, Star of the Sea at Long Branch in 1884.[2] In October 1890, McFaul returned to St. Mary's Cathedral as its rector.[1] Having served as Bishop O'Farrell's secretary and chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton, he was made vicar general on November 1, 1892.[2] He was elected as Apostolic Administrator following Bishop O'Farrell's death in April 1894.[2]

On July 20, 1894, McFaul was appointed the second Bishop of Trenton by Pope Leo XIII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 18 from Archbishop Corrigan, with Bishops Charles Edward McDonnell and Bernard John McQuaid serving as co-consecrators.[3] During his tenure, he erected many churches, schools, and institutions, including an orphanage at Hopewell, a home for the aged at Lawrenceville, and Mount St. Mary's College at Plainfield.[1] He was also one of the key organizers of the American Federation of Catholic Societies.[1] In 1909 he created a controversy when he accused the professors at American colleges and universities of "upbuilding of a cynicism and intimacy with immoral ideas."[4]

McFaul died aged 67.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Trenton". Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15037a.htm. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "IS NOW BISHOP OF TRENTON; JAMES A. McFAUL CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP CORRIGAN". The New York Times. 1894-10-19. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9500E0D81531E033A2575AC1A9669D94659ED7CF. 
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop James Augustine McFaul". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmcfaul.html. 
  4. ^ "BISHOP J.A. M'FAUL DIES IN TRENTON". The New York Times. 1917-06-17. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F05E7DB133AE433A25754C1A9609C946696D6CF. 
Preceded by
Michael J. O'Farrell		 Bishop of Trenton
1894—1917		 Succeeded by
Thomas Walsh