William O'Hara

William O'Hara (April 14, 1816 – February 3, 1899) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania, serving from 1868 until his death in 1899. He founded St. Thomas College in 1888.

Biography Early life and education William O'Hara was born April 14, 1816, in Dungiven, County Londonderry, in Ireland, to Thomas and Mary Louisa (née Miller) O'Hara. His mother was a member of the Church of Ireland, but converted to Catholicism soon after marriage.

In 1834, having decided to become a priest, O’Hara applied to Bishop Francis Kenrick for acceptance as a seminarian for the Diocese of Philadelphia. Kenrick sent him to the Urban College of the Propaganda in Rome, where he completed his philosophical and theological studies. While there, O’Hara befriended fellow seminarian James Andrew Corcoran, who would become a prominent theologian.

Priesthood

O'Hara was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on December 21, 1842, by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. Upon his return to Philadelphia in February 1843, the diocese assigned him as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in the city. He held that position for thirteen years (1843–1856), also assisting in parishes in Philadelphia, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Honesdale, Pennsylvania. After leaving Philadelphia, O’Hara would return to St. Patrick's to celebrate mass on Saint Patrick's Day for many years. By the time of O'Hara's death 31 years later, there were 125,000 Catholics, 78 churches, 130 priests, and 40 parochial schools with 12,000 students. He ordained Reverend Francis Hodur, a Polish priest who would later break with the Catholic Church under O'Hara's successor and establish the Polish National Catholic Church.

O'Hara recognized the golden jubilee of his priestly ordination in 1892 and the silver jubilee of his episcopal consecration the following year. Given his advanced age, he requested that the Vatican appoint coadjutor bishop to assist and eventually succeed him. He received Bishop Michael John Hoban in 1896.

William O'Hara died in Scranton on February 3, 1899, at age 82. At the time of his death, he was the oldest Catholic bishop in the United States. He was buried under the main altar of St. Peter's Cathedral before being exhumed and re-interred at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton.