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Jeremiah Francis Minihan

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Jeremiah Francis Minihan
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseBoston
Orders
OrdinationDecember 21, 1929
by Basilio Pompilj
ConsecrationSeptember 8, 1956
by Richard Cushing
Personal details
Born(1903-07-21)July 21, 1903
Haverhill, Massachusetts, US
DiedAugust 14, 1973(1973-08-14) (aged 70)
Dublin, Ireland
EducationGeorgetown University
Pontifical Urban University
MottoFortitudo et mansuetudo
(Strength and meekness)

Jeremiah Francis Minihan (July 21, 1903 – August 14, 1973) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston from 1954 until his death in 1973.

Biography

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Early life and education

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Jeremiah Minihan was born on July 21, 1903, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, one of two sons of Timothy and Nora Agnes (née Duggan) Minihan.[1] His father was from County Cork and his mother from County Kerry, both in Ireland.[2] Jeremiah received his early education at the parochial school of St. James Parish in Haverhill.[1] He then attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1925.[1] At Georgetown, he played as a lineman on the Hoyas football team.[3]

Deciding to become a priest, Minihan studied at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, where he earned a Doctor of Theology degree in 1930.[2][1]

Ordination and ministry

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Minihan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in Rome on December 21, 1929 by Cardinal Basilio Pompilj.[4] Following his return to Massachusetts, the archdiocese assigned Minihan as a curate at St. Paul Parish in Cambridge.[5] He was appointed as assistant chancellor of the archdiocese in 1931 and as secretary to Cardinal William O'Connell in 1933.[1]

The Vatican Minihan was named a monsignor in 1936.[5] In 1943, he was named chancellor of the archdiocese and pastor of St. Catherine Parish in Norwood, Massachusetts[1] He also served as pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Boston, diocesan consultor, synodal judge, and vicar for religious.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

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On May 21, 1954, Minihan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Boston and titular bishop of Paphos by Pope Pius XII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on September 8, 1954. from Cardinal Richard Cushing, with Bishops John Joseph Wright and Vincent Stanislaus Waters serving as co-consecrators.[4] As an auxiliary bishop, he served as regional bishop for the North Pastoral Region of the archdiocese.[6]

Death and legacy

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Minihan died on August 14, 1973 at age 70 of an apparent heart attack while vacationing in Dublin, Ireland .[5]

The Jeremiah Minihan Coaches Award is presented by Georgetown University to the student who has made an outstanding contribution to the men's football team.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b O'Malley, Patricia Trainor (1999). The Irish in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Vol. II. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing.
  3. ^ a b "Georgetown Football History Project". www.hoyafootball.com. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Bishop Jeremiah Francis Minihan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ a b c "BISHOP MINIHAN OF BOSTON IS DEAD". The New York Times. August 15, 1973. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  6. ^ O'Connor, Thomas H. (1998). Boston Catholics: A History of the Church and Its People. Boston: Northeastern University Press. ISBN 9781555533595.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
1954–1973 		Succeeded by
–
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