June 11, 1867: Future Duluth bishop ordained a priest

On this day in 1867, future bishop of the Duluth Diocese James McGolrick was ordained a priest by Bishop Moriarity of Kerry at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland. McGolrick was born in Ireland’s County Tipperary in 1841 and received his education at All Hallows College (two of his brothers also became priests, and two of his sisters became nuns). McGolrick came to Duluth in 1890 and served as Duluth’s first bishop until his death in 1918 after 51 years in the priesthood. While McGolrick was bishop, the Duluth Diocese built Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. James Orphanage, and Cathedral School, which was funded in part with a $30,000 gift from the bishop himself. Known for his extensive personal library, McGolrick also served on Duluth’s library board and park board from 1900 until its 1913 dissolution. He also said some pretty controversial things about Protestants. Learn more about Bishop McGolrick here.

Reverend James McGolrick. (Image: Duluth Public Library)mcgolrick