Daniel Francis Feehan

Daniel Francis Feehan (September 24, 1855 – July 19, 1934) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Fall River from 1907 until his death in 1934.

Biography

Daniel Feehan was born in Athol, Massachusetts, to William and Joanna (née Foley) Feehan.^[1] As a young child he moved with his parents to Millbury, where he attended the local public schools and befriended the future President William Howard Taft.^[2] He completed his classical and philosophical studies at St. Mary's College in Montreal, Canada, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1876.^[3] He then studied theology at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, New York, for three years.^[4]

Feehan was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Francis McNeirny on December 29, 1879.^[5] His first assignment was as a curate at St. Bernard's Church in Fitchburg, where he remained for seven years.^[1] He then served as pastor of St. Luke's Church in West Boylston (1886-89).^[3] In 1889, he returned to St. Bernard's Church and served as permanent rector there until 1907.^[2]

On July 2, 1907, Feehan was appointed the second Bishop of Fall River by Pope Pius X.^[5] He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 19 from Bishop Thomas Beaven, with Bishops Matthew Harkins and Michael Tierney serving as co-consecrators.^[5] During his 27-year tenure, he became known as the "Benevolent Bishop" and established thirty-six parishes.^[2]

Feehan later died at age 78.

Legacy

Bishop Feehan High School, a parochial school in Attleboro, was named for him when it opened in 1961.

References

1. Curtis, Georgina Pell. The American Catholic Who's Who. Grosse Pointe, MI: Walter Romig.
2. "Bishop Daniel Feehan". Bishop Feehan High School.
3. "Fall River". Catholic Encyclopedia.
4. O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922. Washington, D.C.
5. Cheney, David M. "Bishop Daniel Francis Feehan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.