Joseph Francis McGrath

Joseph Francis McGrath
Bishop of Baker City
In office	1919-1950
Orders
Ordination	December 21, 1895
Consecration	March 25, 1919 by Bishop Edward John O'Dea
Personal details
Born	March 3, 1871 Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Died	April 12, 1950 (aged 79)
Nationality	Irish
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Education	Grand Seminary of Montreal

Joseph Francis McGrath (March 3, 1871—April 12, 1950) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Baker City, Oregon from 1919 to 1950.

Biography

Joseph McGrath was born in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Ireland and did his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.^[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1895.^[2] He served as a curate in the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, before doing missionary work among the Native Americans in Northern Michigan for two years.^[1] He then went to Washington, where he served as a curate at the Cathedral of Seattle and afterwards as rector of St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma.^[1]

On December 21, 1918, McGrath was appointed the second Bishop of Baker City by Pope Benedict XV.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on March 25, 1919 from Bishop Edward John O'Dea, with Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and John Patrick Carroll serving as co-consecrators.^[2] He headed the diocese for thirty-one years, making him the longest-serving bishop in diocesan history. He died at age 79.

References

1. Curtis, Georgina Pell (1947). The American Catholic Who's Who. VII. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
2. "Bishop Joseph Francis McGrath". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.