Patrick Richard Heffron (June 1, 1856[1] – November 23, 1927) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the second Bishop of Winona from 1910 until his death in 1927.
Patrick Richard Heffron | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Winona | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Winona |
| Appointed | March 4, 1910 |
| Term ended | November 23, 1927 |
| Predecessor | Joseph Bernard Cotter |
| Successor | Francis Martin Kelly |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 22, 1884 by Édouard-Charles Fabre |
| Consecration | May 19, 1910 by John Ireland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1856[1] New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 1927 (aged 71) Winona, Minnesota, U.S. |
Early life and education
editPatrick Richard Heffron was born in New York City on June 1, 1856,[1] to Patrick and Margaret (née O'Brien) Heffron.[2] The family later moved to Ripon, Wisconsin, and settled in Olmsted County, Minnesota, in 1864.[6] He received his early education at public schools in New York and Wisconsin, and attended high school in Mantorville.[7] Afterwards he attended business college and law school in Rochester.[7]
Deciding to enter the priesthood, Heffron began his studies under the Benedictines at St. John's College in Collegeville, MN, graduating in 1878.[8] He then continued his studies at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1883.[2]
Priesthood
editWhile in Montreal, Heffron was ordained a priest on December 22, 1884, by Bishop Édouard-Charles Fabre.[3] Following his ordination, he returned to Minnesota and taught theology at St. Thomas Seminary for two years.[8] Archbishop John Ireland sent him to further his studies in Rome, where he earned doctorates in theology and canon law from the college at Santa Maria sopra Minerva in 1889.[8]
Returning from Europe, Heffron served as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Paul from 1889 to 1896.[2] He then returned to St. Thomas Seminary, being appointed vice rector in 1896.[9] In 1897, he was promoted to the seminary's rector.[8]
Bishop of Winona
editOn March 4, 1910, Heffron was appointed Bishop of Winona by Pope Pius X.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 19 from Archbishop Ireland, with Bishops James McGolrick and James Trobec serving as co-consecrators.[3]
When Heffron became bishop in 1910, the Diocese of Winona contained a Catholic population of over 49,000 with 91 priests, 116 churches, and 29 parochial schools with 4,700 students.[10] By the time of his death in 1927, there was a Catholic population of nearly 69,000 with 130 priests, 125 churches, and 42 parochial schools with over 8,000 students.[11] He opened Cotter High School in 1911 and St. Mary's College in 1912.[2]
On August 27, 1915, Heffron was shot twice while celebrating private mass by Laurence M. Lesches, a diocesan priest. Lesches had been angry at Heffron for denying him his own parish due to Lesches' arrogant behavior and emotional instability.[12] Heffron survived, but Lesches was committed to a mental hospital for the rest of his life.[13]
He was named an assistant to the papal throne by Pope Benedict XV in November 1920.[14]
Death and legacy
editHeffron died from brain cancer on November 23, 1927.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c While some sources give a birth year of 1860,[2][3] U.S. census records indicate 1856.[4][5]
- ^ a b c d e The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XV. New York: James T. White & Company. 1916.
- ^ a b c d "Bishop Patrick Richard Heffron". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ The 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Ripon Ward 2, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin at p. 6 lists his age as 4, leading to a date of birth of 1856.
- ^ The 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Kalmar, Olmsted County, Minnesota at p. 6 lists his age as 14, leading to a date of birth of 1856.
- ^ Leonard, Joseph Alexander (1910). History of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association.
- ^ a b "MADE BISHOP". The Irish Standard. March 12, 1910.
- ^ a b c d Athans, Mary Christine (2002). To Work for the Whole People: John Ireland's Seminary in St. Paul. Paulist Press. ISBN 9780809105458.
- ^ "Ecclesiastical Changes". Minneapolis Daily Times. August 31, 1896.
- ^ The Official Catholic Directory. M. H. Wiltzius. 1910.
- ^ The Official Catholic Directory. P. J. Kenedy & Sons. 1927.
- ^ Ehrlick, Darrell (2008). It Happened in Minnesota. Kearney, Nebraska: Morris Book Publishing. pp. 73–75. ISBN 9780762743322.
- ^ "Answer Man: Winona bishop survived 1915 shooting". Post Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota. September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ^ "Bishop Heffron Honored by Pope; Named Assistant To Pontifical Throne". The Winona Daily News. November 15, 1920.
- ^ "Bishop Heffron Dead". The Winona Daily News. November 23, 1927.