John Jeremiah McRaith

John Jeremiah McRaith (December 6, 1934 – March 19, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro in Kentucky from 1982 to 2009.

Biography

Early life John McRaith was born on December 6, 1934, in Hutchinson, Minnesota to Arthur Luke McRaith and Marie (née Hanley) McRaith. He grew up on a farm in that community. McRaith attended St. John's Preparatory School in Collegeville, Minnesota, then went to Loras College and St. Bernard's Seminary, both in Dubuque, Iowa.

Priesthood McRaith was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm at St. Mary's Church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, by Bishop Alphonse James Schladweiler on February 21, 1960.

Bishop of Owensboro On October 23, 1982, McRaith was appointed the third bishop of Owensboro by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on December 15, 1982, at the Owensboro Sportscenter from Archbishop Thomas Kelly, with Bishops Henry Soenneker and Raymond Lucker serving as co-consecrators. McRaith was a board member for Brescia University, the Daniel Pitino Shelter for the homeless and the McAuley Free Clinic, all in Owensboro, and the Lourdes Hospital Foundation in Paducah, Kentucky.

Retirement and legacy On January 5, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted McRaith's early retirement for health reasons as bishop of Owensboro. McRaith explained, "I do not have a life-threatening illness, but my doctors have advised me to slow down."

John McRaith died in Owensboro on March 19, 2017, at age 82.