Most Rev. John Timon, C.M.

1st Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1847-1867)

Installed: October 17, 1847

Died: April 16, 1867

He was a member of the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians). His body lies in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York.  

Most Rev. Stephen V. Ryan, C.M.

2nd Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1868-1896)

Installed: November 8, 1868

Died: April 10, 1896
He was a member of the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians). He was Bishop of Buffalo for 28 years, the longest serving bishop in the history of the Diocese of Buffalo. His body lies in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York.   

Most Rev. James E. Quigley

3rd Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1897-1903)

Installed: February 24, 1897 (First priest of the Diocese of Buffalo to be named Bishop of Buffalo)

Installed as Archbishop of Chicago: March 10, 1903

Died: July 10, 1915 

Most Rev. Charles H. Colton

4th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1903-1915)

Installed: August 24, 1903

Died: May 9, 1915
His body lies in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York.

 
Most Rev. Denis Dougherty

5th Bishop of Buffalo
(Episcopacy dates: 1915-1918)
Installed: December 9, 1915
Installed Archbishop of Philadelphia: July 10, 1918
He left Buffalo to become Archbishop of Philadelphia and was elevated to Cardinal in 1921
Died: May 31, 1951

Most Rev. William Turner

6th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1919-1936)

Installed: March 30, 1919

Died: July 10, 1936
He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in the Town of Tonawanda.
 

Most Rev. John A. Duffy

7th Bishop of Buffalo
(Episcopacy dates: 1937-1944)
Installed: April 14, 1937
Died: September 27, 1944
He is buried in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Most Rev. John F. O’Hara, C.S.C.

8th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1945-1951)

Installed: May 8, 1945

Installed Archbishop of Philadelphia: January 9, 1952

Died: August 28, 1960

He was a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He became Archbishop of Philadelphia and was elevated to Cardinal in 1958. He is buried at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.  

Most Rev. Joseph A. Burke

9th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1952-1962)

Installed: April 30, 1952

Died: October 16, 1962

He was the first native of Buffalo to become the Bishop of Buffalo. He died in Rome, Italy, during the first week of Vatican II, in October 1962. He is buried in front of the Chapel at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, New York. 

Most Rev. James A. McNulty

10th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1963-1972)

Installed: May 1, 1963

Died: September 4, 1972
He is buried in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Most Rev. Edward D. Head

11th Bishop of Buffalo
(Episcopacy dates: 1973-1995)
Installed: March 19, 1973
Retired: April 18, 1995
Died: March 29, 2005
His body lies in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. 

Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell

12th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 1995 - 2003)

Installed: June 12, 1995

Installed as Archbishop of Hartford: December 18, 2003 

 

Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec

13th Bishop of Buffalo

(Episcopacy dates: 2004 - present)

Installed: October 28, 2004

 

 

Bishops of Buffalo:  Fast facts 

• Two bishops of Buffalo went on to become archbishop of Philadelphia: Bishop Denis Dougherty and Bishop John O’Hara
• Bishop Stephen Ryan served the longest term of any bishop of Buffalo: 28 years
•  Bishop Denis Dougherty served the shortest term of any bishop of Buffalo: 2 years, 8 months
• Two bishops of Buffalo were from the Diocese of Buffalo: Bishop James Quigley, Bishop Joseph Burke
• Four bishops of Buffalo were moved from the Diocese of Buffalo to archdioceses: Bishop Denis Dougherty, Bishop John O’Hara [Archdiocese of Philadelphia]; Bishop James Quigley [Archdiocese of Chicago], Bishop Henry Mansell [Archdiocese of Hartford]
• Only Bishop Edward Head retired as bishop of Buffalo
•  Seven bishops died while bishop of Buffalo
•  Four bishops of Buffalo are buried in St. Joseph’s Cathedral: Bishop John Timon, Bishop Stephen Ryan, Bishop Charles Colton, Edward D. Head
•  The average term of a bishop of Buffalo: 12 years, 3 months
•  Two bishops of Buffalo were elevated to cardinal: Bishop Denis Dougherty and Bishop John O’Hara
•  Three bishops of Buffalo were religious order priests: Bishop John Timon, Bishop Stephen Ryan, both Vincentians; Bishop John O'Hara, Holy Cross Fathers