Michael J. O'Farrell

Michael Joseph O'Farrell (December 2, 1832 – April 2, 1894) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first Bishop of Trenton (1881–1894).

Michael O'Farrell was born in Limerick, and studied the classics and philosophy at All Hallows College in Dublin. He then studied theology at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France, where he joined the Society of Saint-Sulpice (more commonly known as the Sulpicians). Returning to Ireland, was ordained to the priesthood on August 18, 1855. He was sent by his superiors to the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, where he taught dogmatic theology.

In 1869 he left the Sulpicians and was incardinated into the Diocese of New York in the United States. He served as a curate at St. Peter's Church in New York City until 1872, when he became pastor of St. Mary's Church in Rondout. After a brief tenure at St. Mary's, he returned to St. Peter's in 1873 as its pastor.