John Tuigg

John Tuigg (February 19, 1820 – December 7, 1889) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania from 1876 to 1889.

Biography

Early life John Tuigg was born on February 19, 1820, in Donoughmore, County Cork, in Ireland. Deciding to become a priest, he began studying at All Hallows College in Dublin.

In 1849, when Bishop Michael O'Connor traveled to Dublin to recruit seminarians for missionary work in America, Tuigg was the first to respond. He arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in December 1849. He finished his studies for the priesthood at St. Michael's Seminary in Pittsburgh, where he taught until his ordination.

Priesthood Tuigg was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Michael O’Connor in Pittsburgh on May 14, 1850. After his ordination, O'Connor assigned Tuigg as his secretary and as assistant pastor of St. Brigid Parish in Pittsburgh. He started building a new church for St. Brigid, but was soon transferred to perform mission work in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Tuigg was later appointed vicar for this area.

Pope Pius IX split the eastern part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh into the Diocese of Allegheny and named Bishop Michael Domenec of Pittsburgh as its first bishop. However, the boundaries set for the new diocese were unpopular in Pittsburgh as it saddled the Diocese of Pittsburgh with the most debt-ridden institutions.