Jeremiah F. Shanahan

Jeremiah Francis Shanahan (July 17, 1834 – September 24, 1886) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania from 1868 until his death in 1886.

Biography Early life Jeremiah Shanahan was born on July 17, 1834, in Silver Lake, Pennsylvania, to John and Margaret Shanahan, who immigrated to the United States from County Cork, Ireland. His younger brother was John W. Shanahan, who also served as bishop of Harrisburg (1899–1916).

After graduating from St. Joseph's Academy near Binghamton, New York, in 1852, Jeremiah Shanahan entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Upon arriving in Harrisburg, Shanahan designated St. Patrick's Church in Harrisburg as his cathedral. He opened Sylvan Heights Seminary at Harrisburg in October 1883. Shanahan introduced into the diocese the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of Christian Charity, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the Sisters of Charity. By the time of his death, the diocese had 51 priests, 51 churches, 75 chapels and missions, three orphanages, 29 parochial schools, and over 35,000 Catholics.

Death and legacy Shanahan died on September 24, 1886, in Harrisburg at age 52.