J. Kevin Boland

John Kevin Boland (born April 25, 1935) is an Irish-born American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Savannah in Georgia from 1995 to 2011.

Biography

Early life John Boland was born in Monkstown, County Cork, Ireland on April 25, 1935, to John Joseph and Gertrude O’Brien. His brother, Raymond Boland, served as bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph in Missouri. John Boland attended Christian Brothers College in Cork and All Hallows Seminary in Dublin, Ireland.

Boland was appointed pastor in 1967 of St. Michael Parish in Tybee Island, Georgia, staying there until 1968. In 1970, the bishop named him rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah. Boland was transferred in 1972 to Blessed Sacrament Parish in Savannah. In 1974, Boland went to Rome to attend the continuing education program of the Pontifical North American College.

Boland in October 2009 was briefly hospitalized for an episode of transient global amnesia in Savannah while performing a wedding mass. In November 2009, Boland agreed to a $4.24 million financial settlement by the diocese with Allan Ranta, a victim of sexual abuse by Reverend Wayland Y. Brown. Boland released this statement:I am sorry for all the pain and suffering experienced by Mr. Ranta and my prayers go out not only to him, but to all victims of child sexual abuse that each may find the healing they seek.

Retirement and legacy Boland reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on April 25, 2010, and submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. It was accepted by the pope on July 19, 2011.