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| Timon | Diocesan Bishops |
Duffy |
| Ryan | O'Hara | |
| Quigley | Burke | |
| Colton | McNulty | |
| Dougherty | Head | |
| Turner | Mansell | |
| Kmiec |
Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec |
On August 12, 2004, Pope John Paul II named the Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec the 13th Bishop of Buffalo. He was installed on October 28, 2004 at Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Bishop Kmiec was born June 4, 1936 in Trenton, New Jersey. Bishop Kmiec's baptismal parish, St. Hedwig's in Trenton, is where he attended school throughout his grammar school years, and from St. Hedwig's he went on to Trenton Catholic Boys High School. In 1954, Edward Kmiec left the Trenton area to attend Saint Charles' College in Catonsville, Maryland, and later St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, where he received his B.A. degree in 1958. Subsequently, the Bishop was sent to Rome for his theological studies, residing at the North American College and attending the Gregorian University. He was ordained to the Priesthood on December 20, 1961 at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, and his first Mass was celebrated at St. Peter's in the Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa. He continued his studies and received his S.T.L. degree in 1962 from the Gregorian University. Upon returning to the United States in the summer of 1962, Bishop Kmiec served as Associate Pastor of Saint Rose Parish in Belmar, New Jersey. In 1965, he was appointed Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to His Excellency, Bishop George W. Ahr, whom he served in that capacity through 1980. Bishop Kmiec was named Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by His Holiness Pope Paul VI in 1977. On November 3, 1982, he was ordained to the Episcopacy. He served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton from 1982 until he was named Bishop of Nashville by His Holiness Pope John Paul II and was subsequently installed to that Office on December 3, 1992. For over 27 years Bishop Kmiec was actively involved in various phases of administration of the Diocese of Trenton. This included serving as Vice Chancellor of the Diocese from 1966 through 1982. He was a member of the Diocesan Budget Committee, the Diocesan Priests' Council and the Diocesan Board of Consultors. He also served as Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General of the Diocese, and he was the General Secretary for the Fourth Synod of the Diocese of Trenton which ended in 1991. He also was a member of the Public Policy Committee of the New Jersey Conference of Catholic Bishops, for whom he also served as Secretary-Treasurer. Bishop Kmiec served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on the Diaconate from 1995 through 1998 and was Chairman of Region V of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1994 through 1998. He has also served on numerous other national and regional committees, the Bishops' Committee on Human Values, the Bishops' Committee on Pastoral Research and Practices, and the Bishops’ Committee of Priestly Life and Ministry. He has been on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, the North American College, Rome. The Most Reverend Edward U. Kmiec is presently a member of the Bishops' Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations, the Secretariat for Catholic-Orthodox Relations and the Roman Catholic and Polish National Catholic Church Dialogue. He also serves on the Bishop's Sub-Committee on the Laity and the Board of the Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Affairs, and is a regional Episcopal Advisor for the Cursillo Movement. Recently, in November, 2000, the Bishop was appointed to membership on the Ad Hoc Committee for Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and to the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as Alternate Representative for Region Five. Bishop Kmiec is a member of the Canon Law Society of America, the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland, the Kosciuszko Foundation, the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences, and the American Center of Polish Culture. He is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and Knight Commander of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. |
Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell |
On January 6, 1993, Pope John Paul II ordained Bishop Henry J. Mansell in Rome as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Two years later, on April 18, 1995, the Holy Father appointed him as the 12th Bishop of Buffalo. On June 12, 1995, Cardinal John O'Connor presided over Bishop Mansell's installation at Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Bishop Mansell was tireless in promoting the Catholic identity and effectiveness of Catholic education, health care and social service institutes within the Diocese of Buffalo. He established a Vicariate structure of 16 Vicariates to foster communication and collaboration. He established the Catholic Health Care System of Western New York effectively uniting the resources of area Catholic hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. He inaugurated renovations to Saint Joseph's Cathedral and fostered its role as the spiritual and artistic center of the Diocese. In 1997, he led the Diocese in celebrating its Sesquicentennial in preparation for the Great Jubilee 2000. During the Jubilee Year he coordinated efforts for the faithful of the diocese to recognize their identity as Catholics and the call to service that Catholicism entails. He also established the Spirit of Church Committee in order to foster concrete avenues of collaboration between urban, suburban, and rural parishes and institutions. "We Are Catholic. Let It Show. Open Wide the Doors to Christ..."
Bishop Mansell became the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford in Conneticut on December 18, 2003. |
Most Rev. Edward D. Head |
Bishop Edward D. Head, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, was installed as the 11th Bishop of Buffalo on the Diocesan Patronal Feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, 1973. He oversaw the establishment of many offices and institutes in the diocese, namely: the Priests' Retirement Board, the Religious Education Coordinators Council, the Center for Church Vocations, the Peace and Justice Commission, the Western New York Catholic Hospital Health Care Council, the Office of Vicar for Religious, the Office of Vicar for Campus Ministry, the Permanent Diaconate Program, the Diocesan Marian Commission, the Organist Enrichment Program, the Office of Vicar for the Central City, the Catholic Charities Parish Outreach Program, Daybreak Productions, the Little Portion Friary, the Agenda for the 80's, the Pope John Paul II Residence, the Diocesan Radio Studio, the consolidation of the Catholic Education Department, the Lay Ministry Advisory Board, the Renew Program, the relocation and consolidation of Diocesan Offices in the Catholic Center at 795 Main Street, the Office of Church Ministry, the Hispanic Apostolate, the Office of Black Ministry, the Department of Pro-Life Activities, the Commission on Women in the Church and Society, the reorganization of 10 Central City parishes, the New Visions Commission for Pastoral Planning, among others. Bishop Head retired on April 18, 1995 upon the appointment of Bishop Henry J. Mansell. After ministering for ten years during his retirement administering Confirmation and visiting the sick, Bishop Head died in Buffalo on March 29, 2005. His body lies in the crypt of Saint Joseph Cathedral. |
Most Rev. James A. McNulty |
Bishop James A. McNulty, a native of New York City and Bishop of Paterson NJ, was named Bishop of Buffalo and installed on May 1, 1963. He reduced the diocesan debt which stood at $30 million through a three year Diocesan Development Fund. He oversaw the implementation of the Decrees of Vatican II including the establishment of the Priests' Senate. A good number of new parishes were established and former Missionary Apostolate parishes became independent. Many parishes built new church buildings. Bishop McNulty promoted religious vocations, expanded inner city ministry, established the Liturgical Commission, the Pastoral Council, a Lay Steering Committee to oversee finances, and the Communications Office. It was Bishop McNulty who with Channel 4, began the television program The Bishop Visits Your Home. On September 4, 1972 Bishop McNulty died. His body is buried next to his parents in East Hanover, New Jersey. |
Most Rev. Joseph A. Burke |
Bishop Joseph A. Burke was the first native of the Buffalo Diocese to become bishop here. He was baptized at Saint Joseph's Cathedral by Bishop Quigley. He was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop for Buffalo in 1943. In 1944 and in 1951 he served as administrator of the diocese until bishops were appointed. He was installed on April 30, 1952. In his 10 years as bishop, he gave his support to various groups, including the Holy Name, the Missions, Pre-Cana, Puerto Rican migrants, and displaced persons. He continued the expansion and construction of schools including Saint John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora. Bishop Burke died in Rome during the first week of Vatican II in October 1962. His body is buried in front of the chapel at Christ the King Seminary (Saint John Vianney) in East Aurora. |
Most Rev. John F. O'Hara, C.S.C. |
After serving as president of Notre Dame University and serving as Military Vicar during World War II, Bishop John F. O'Hara was installed as the eighth Bishop of Buffalo on May 8, 1945. He expanded education, adding approximately 500 new classrooms including 11 high schools and dozens of elementary schools. Bishop O'Hara went on to Philadelphia to serve as Archbishop. In 1958 he was named a Cardinal. He died in 1960 and his body is buried at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. |
Most Rev. John A. Duffy |
Bishop John A. Duffy who was Bishop of Syracuse from 1933 to 1937 was installed as Bishop of Buffalo on April 14, 1937. He was concerned about those in need because of the Great Depression so he started the Diocesan Fund for the Faith. He established parishes in the sparsely settled areas of the diocese. He initiated the Catholic Youth Organization, the Bishop's Committee for Christian Home and Family, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and Newman Clubs. Bishop Duffy died in 1944 and his body lies next to his parents in Jersey City, New Jersey. |
Most Rev. William Turner |
Bishop William Turner, a native of Ireland and professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, was installed on April 10, 1919 as the 6th Bishop of Buffalo. A man of learning and charity, Bishop Turner began Catholic Charities in 1924. More than 30 new parishes were established between 1919 and 1936. Bishop Turner died in 1936. His body lies in Mount Olivet Cemetery in the Town of Tonawanda. |
Most Rev. Denis Dougherty |
Bishop Denis Dougherty, who had served as bishop in the Philippines from 1903 to 1916 was installed on June 6, 1916. He moved on to become Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1918. In 1921, he became a Cardinal and served in Philadelphia until his death in 1951. |
Most Rev. Charles H. Colton |
Bishop Charles H. Colton was consecrated on August 24, 1903. During his tenure, 72 churches, 18 combination school-churches, 30 schools, 12 academies, 13 hospitals, and charitable institutions, 6 convents, and 28 rectories made up the diocese. Bishop Colton died in 1915; his body lies in the crypt of Saint Joseph's Cathedral. |
Most Rev. James E. Quigley |
Bishop James E. Quigley was the first bishop to be chosen from among the priests of the Diocese of Buffalo. Four counties - Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, and Tioga - were transferred to the Diocese of Rochester leaving eight counties to the Diocese of Buffalo. In 1903, Bishop Quigley moved on to become Archbishop of Chicago. |
Most Rev. Stephen V. Ryan, C.M. |
In 1868, Buffalo and Rochester became separate dioceses. Bishop Stephen V. Ryan served 28 years, the longest of any Buffalo bishop. He founded the diocesan newspaper called the Catholic Union (later known as the Catholic Union and Echo, the Magnificat, and the Western New York Catholic). More religious orders were recruited including the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity, and the Felician Sisters. Bishop Ryan died on April 10, 1896; his body lies buried next to Bishop Timon in Saint Joseph's Cathedral. |
Most Rev. John Timon, C.M. |
On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Buffalo was established. It included the 20 counties of Western New York. Bishop John Timon, who had served as a missionary up and down the Mississippi River and in Texas, came to Buffalo in October 1847. During his tenure, many religious orders were recruited to establish ministries in the newly formed diocese including the Sisters 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 Saint Joseph, the Vincentians, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Saint Francis, the Passionist Fathers, and the Christian Brothers. Bishop Timon died in 1867. His body lies entombed in the crypt of Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo. |
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