Joseph Patrick Lynch

Joseph Patrick Lynch (November 16, 1872 – August 19, 1954) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Dallas from 1911 until his death in 1954. He remains the longest-serving Catholic bishop in the United States.

Joseph Lynch was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, to John Valentine and Veronica Jane (née Botham) Lynch. His father came to the United States from Newcastle, Moynalty, County Meath, Ireland, in 1866, and his mother was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and immigrated in 1856. In 1887 he entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating from St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland in 1891, Lynch studied theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He changed his study to law and then practiced for several years near Chicago, Illinois.

Lynch became acquainted with Bishop Edward Joseph Dunne, who convinced him to abandon his legal career and resume his seminary studies. He attended Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and was later ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1900. Lynch then served as a curate at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas, Texas, until 1902, when he became pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Weatherford. He erected churches in Weatherford and in Handley. He was named the founding pastor of St. Edward's Church at Dallas in 1903. He there established a church, rectory, and parochial school. In June 1910 he became vicar general of the Diocese of Dallas. He was shortly afterwards made Apostolic Administrator of Dallas following the death of Bishop Dunne in August 1910.

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