Michael John Hoban

Michael John Hoban (June 6, 1853 – November 13, 1926) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania from 1899 until his death in 1926.

While Hoban was coadjutor bishop of Scranton, a schism occurred in the diocese. It resulted in a congregation leaving the Catholic Church to later form the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States.

Biography

Early life Michael Hoban was born on June 6, 1853, in Waterloo Village in Byram Township, New Jersey, to Patrick and Bridget (née Hennigan) Hoban. Both parents were Irish immigrants who met in New Jersey. Patrick Hoban was a railroad contractor working on a project in Waterloo Village. The family later moved to Hawley, Pennsylvania, for Patrick to work for a canal company.

Michael Hoban attended private primary schools in Hawley, then was sent by his parent to St. Francis Xavier's College in New York City at age 14. In 1868, after one year at St. Francis, Hoban entered the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. With the death of his father in 1871, Hoban dropped out of college to return to Hawley to help his mother with the family business.

Hoban later traveled to New York City to study at St. John's College in the Bronx. After one year at St. John's, he decided to enter the priesthood. He spent 1874 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1875, he was sent to Rome to reside at the Pontifical North American College while studying in that city.

Bishop of Scranton Hoban automatically succeeded Bishop William O'Hara as bishop of the Diocese of Scranton on his death on February 3, 1899.

Death Michael Hoban died on November 13, 1926, in Scranton at age 73. He is buried at the Cathedral of Scranton.