Most Rev. John Timon, CM

1st Bishop of Buffalo (1847-1867)
"Protect Me Under The Shadow of Your Arms"
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 St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo.