John Joseph Nilan

John Joseph Nilan (August 1, 1855 – April 13, 1934) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Hartford from 1910 until his death in 1934.

Biography

Early life John Nilan was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and received his early education at the elementary and high schools in Newburyport. After graduating from the Nicolet College Seminary in Nicolet, Quebec, in 1875, he continued his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Troy, New York.

Priesthood Nilan was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston by Cardinal John McCloskey at St. Joseph on December 21, 1878. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Nilan to serve as a pastor at a parish in Framingham, then afterwards at St. James Parish in Boston. He received his episcopal consecration on April 28, 1910, from Cardinal William Henry O'Connell, with Bishops Louis Sebastian Walsh and Daniel Francis Feehan serving as co-consecrators. One of his first acts as bishop was the establishment of a home for orphan children.

During his tenure, he concerned himself with fostering many ethnic parishes to serve Connecticut's diverse population.

Nilan died at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, on April 13, 1934.