Most Rev. John Timon, C.M. | |
---|---|
Bishop of Buffalo | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
See | Buffalo |
In office | 23 April 1847 | —16 April 1867
Successor | Stephen V. Ryan |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1825 |
Consecration | 23 April 1847 |
Personal details | |
Born |
Conewago, Pennsylvania |
12 February 1797
Died | 16 April 1867 Buffalo, New York |
(aged 70)
Most Rev. John Timon, C.M. (February 12, 1797 – April 16, 1867) was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Buffalo, New York.
Born in Conewago, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Baltimore, Maryland working for the family dry goods business there and in Louisville, Kentucky after the family moved west in 1818. They relocated a year later to St. Louis, Missouri. After a financial crisis which wiped out the family wealth, he determined to join the priesthood, entering the St. Mary of the Barrens seminary in 1823. He was ordained deacon, and then priest, in 1825. He served as a missionary up and down the Mississippi River and in Texas.
According to the catholic-hierarchy site: he was named coadjutor bishop of St. Louis in 1839 and that appointment did not take effect.
On July 18, 1840 he was named Prefect Apostolic of the Republic of Texas.
On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Buffalo was established; it included the 20 counties of Western New York. Bishop Timon came to Buffalo in October 1847. He spent the remaining 20 years of his life building the Church there. Beginning with 16 priests for 16 counties, he immediately began to build churches, and establish schools.
During his tenure, many religious orders were recruited to establish ministries in the newly formed diocese including the Daughters of Charity, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the Franciscans, the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, the Jesuits, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Vincentians, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of St. Francis, the Passionists, and the Christian Brothers.