Francis Edward Hyland

Francis Edward Hyland (October 9, 1901 – January 31, 1968) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta in Georgia from 1956 to 1961. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta in Georgia from 1949 to 1956.

Biography Early life Francis Hyland was born on October 9, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James and Sarah (née McCarron) Hyland. He attended the Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia. Deciding to become a priest, Hyland entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Priesthood Hyland was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Bishop Michael Crane on June 11, 1927. He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1928, then spent ten years as secretary to the apostolic delegation in Washington, Returning to Pennsylvania, Hyland served as pastor of Resurrection Parish in Chester and of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Philadelphia (1941–1949).

Bishop of Atlanta Hyland was named the first bishop of the recently erected Diocese of Atlanta by Pius XII on July 17, 1956. He was installed at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 8, 1956.

Retirement and legacy After a five-year-long tenure, Hyland resigned as bishop of Atlanta due to ill health on October 11, 1961; upon accepting his resignation, Pope John XXIII appointed him titular bishop of Bisica. Francis Hyland died in Philadelphia on January 31, 1968, at age 66.