His Excellency, The Most Reverend

James Albert Duffy
Bishop of Grand Island
Titular bishop of Silandus
SeeDiocese of Grand Island
InstalledApril 13, 1913
Term endedJune 5, 1931
SuccessorStanislaus Vincent Bona
Orders
OrdinationMay 27, 1899
by John Ireland
ConsecrationApril 13, 1913
by James J. Keane
Personal details
Born(1873-09-13)September 13, 1873
St. Paul, Minnesota, US
DiedFebruary 12, 1968(1968-02-12) (aged 94)
Hot Springs, Arkansas, US
BuriedCalvary Cemetery, Grand Island, Nebraska, US
DenominationRoman Catholic
Parents
  • James J. Duffy
  • Johanna Shiely
EducationSaint Paul Seminary School of Divinity

James Albert Duffy (September 13, 1873 – February 12, 1968) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska from 1917 to 1931. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Kearney in Nebraska from 1913 until its dissolution in 1917.

Biography

Early life

James Duffy was born on September 13, 1873, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the third child of James J. Duffy and Johanna Shiely. When the death of the parents in 1879 orphaned the eight Duffy children, James Albert Duffy went to live at the Boys Orphan Asylum in Minneapolis. From 1887 to 1893, he was a student at the University of St. Thomas and subsequently attended Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity from 1894 to 1899.[1]

Priesthood

Duffy was ordained into the priesthood on May 27, 1899, for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, by Archbishop John Ireland. Following his ordination, Duffy served as a priest at Immaculate Conception Parish in Minneapolis (1899-1902) and at St. Anne's Parish in Le Sueur, Minnesota (1902-1904). In 1904, he became rector at the cathedral parish of St. Mary's in Cheyenne, Wyoming, under Bishop James J. Keane,[1] and subsequently authored the article on the Diocese of Cheyenne for the Catholic Encyclopedia.[1]

Bishop of Grand Island

On January 27, 1913, Pope Pius X appointed Duffy as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kearney (which became the Diocese of Grand Island in 1917). Duffy was consecrated by Archbishop James J. Keane on April 13, 1913. Duffy oversaw construction of the Cathedral of St. Mary from 1926 to 1928, and also established the Nebraska Register.

Retirement and legacy

On June 5, 1931, Pope Pius XI accepted Duffy's early retirement as bishop of Grand Island due to poor health and appointed him as titular bishop of Silandus.[2]

Duffy died on February 12, 1968, at St. Joseph's Infirmary in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Grand Island, Nebraska.[2] At the time of his death, he was the most senior bishop in the United States in both age and years of consecration.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Catholic Encyclopedia and its makers. New York: The Encyclopedia Press. 1917. pp. 49.
  2. ^ a b "Bishop James Albert Duffy". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Most Reverend James A. Duffy". Nebraska Register. Vol. 44, no. 8. 16 February 1968. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2007.
Catholic Church titles Preceded byNone(diocese erected) Bishop of Grand Island(was Diocese of Kearney) 1913–1931 Succeeded byStanislaus Vincent Bona
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