John Timon
Encyclopedia
Most Rev. John Timon, C.M. (February 12, 1797 - April 16, 1867) was the first Roman Catholic
Bishop of Buffalo, New York
.
Born in Conewago
, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Baltimore, Maryland working for the family dry goods business there and in Louisville, Kentucky
after the family moved west in 1818. They relocated a year later to St. Louis, Missouri
. After a financial crisis which wiped out the family wealth, he determined to join the priesthood, entering the St. Mary of the Barrens seminary in 1823. He was ordained deacon, and then priest, in 1825.
On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Buffalo was established. It included the 20 counties of Western New York. Bishop Timon, who had served as a missionary up and down the Mississippi River and in Texas, came to Buffalo in October 1847. He spent the remaining 20 years of his life building the Church there. Beginning with 16 priests for 16 counties, he immediately began to build churches, and establish schools.
During his tenure, many religious orders were recruited to establish ministries in the newly formed diocese including the Sisters of Charity, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the Franciscans, the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, the Jesuits, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Vincentians, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Saint Francis, the Passionist Fathers, and the Christian Brothers.
St. Bonaventure University
was founded by Utica
, New York
financier Nicholas Devereux with assistance from Bishop Timon. The two invited the Franciscan order to Western New York, and a small group under Father Pamfilo da Magliano OFM arrived in 1856.
in Buffalo is named in his honor.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Bishop of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Born in Conewago
Conewago
Conewago may refer to:Communities*Conewago Township, Pennsylvania Streams*Conewago Creek in Adams and York Counties, Pennsylvania*Conewago Creek in Lebanon, Dauphin, and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Baltimore, Maryland working for the family dry goods business there and in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
after the family moved west in 1818. They relocated a year later to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. After a financial crisis which wiped out the family wealth, he determined to join the priesthood, entering the St. Mary of the Barrens seminary in 1823. He was ordained deacon, and then priest, in 1825.
On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Buffalo was established. It included the 20 counties of Western New York. Bishop Timon, who had served as a missionary up and down the Mississippi River and in Texas, came to Buffalo in October 1847. He spent the remaining 20 years of his life building the Church there. Beginning with 16 priests for 16 counties, he immediately began to build churches, and establish schools.
During his tenure, many religious orders were recruited to establish ministries in the newly formed diocese including the Sisters of Charity, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the Franciscans, the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, the Jesuits, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Vincentians, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Saint Francis, the Passionist Fathers, and the Christian Brothers.
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
was founded by Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
financier Nicholas Devereux with assistance from Bishop Timon. The two invited the Franciscan order to Western New York, and a small group under Father Pamfilo da Magliano OFM arrived in 1856.
Death/Legacy
Bishop Timon died on April 16, 1867, aged 70. His body lies entombed in the crypt of Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo. Bishop Timon - St. Jude High SchoolBishop Timon - St. Jude High School
Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School is a Roman Catholic Franciscan private high school for young men located at 601 McKinley Parkway in South Buffalo, New York. Bishop Timon High School, as it was originally known, was founded in 1946.-History:In 1946, the school officially opened its doors with a...
in Buffalo is named in his honor.