John W. Shanahan

John Walter Shanahan (January 3, 1846 – February 19, 1916) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania from 1899 until his death in 1916.

Biography

Early life John Shanahan was born on January 3, 1846, in Silver Lake Township, Pennsylvania, to John and Margaret (née Donovan) Shanahan, who immigrated to the United States from County Cork, Ireland. His brother Jeremiah Shanahan was the first bishop of Harrisburg, serving between 1868 and his death in 1886. John Shanahan studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Priesthood John Shanahan was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Philadelphia by Jeremiah Shanahan, on January 2, 1869. John Shanahan served as superintendent of Catholic schools in Philadelphia.

Bishop of Harrisburg On January 2, 1899, Shanahan was appointed the third bishop of Harrisburg by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Philadelphia on May 1, 1899, from Archbishop Patrick Ryan, with Bishops Ignatius Horstmann and Edmond Prendergast serving as co-consecrators. He opened an orphanage for girls at Sylvan Heights and a protectory for boys at Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, and completed construction on the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Harrisburg in 1907.