Patrick Vincent Ahern | |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary Bishop of New York Titular Bishop of Naiera | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Archdiocese of New York |
| In office | 1970 to 1994 |
| Other post | Titular Bishop of Naiera |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | January 27, 1945 by Francis Spellman |
| Consecration | March 19, 1970 by Terence Cooke,John Joseph Maguire andEdwin Broderick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1919-03-08)March 8, 1919 New York City, US |
| Died | March 19, 2011(2011-03-19) (aged 92) |
| Education | Manhattan College Cathedral College St. Louis University University of Notre Dame |
| Styles of Patrick Ahern | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
Patrick Vincent Ahern (March 8, 1919 – March 19, 2011) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as anauxiliary bishop of theArchdiocese of New York from 1970 to 1994.
Patrick Ahern was born on March 8, 1919, in Manhattan. He first attended Blessed Sacrament School andSt. Agnes Boys High School, both in Manhattan. He then went toManhattan College in the Bronx andCathedral College in Queens[1][2] He began his studies for thepriesthood atSt. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.
Ahern later attendedSt. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and theUniversity of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.[1]
Ahern wasordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York by CardinalFrancis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on January 27, 1945.[3] After his 1945 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Ahern as acurate atSt. Helena's Parish in theBronx.[4] He then worked with the Archdiocesan Mission Band until 1955, when he was named a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral.[5]
Ahern taught at St. Joseph's Seminary before Spellman named him as his priest seary in 1958.[1] In 1967, Ahern was named aspastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in the Bronx.[5]
On February 3, 1970, Ahern was named an auxiliary bishop for New York and titular bishop of Naiera byPope Paul VI. He received hisepiscopalconsecration on March 19, 1970, from CardinalTerence Cooke, with ArchbishopJohn Maguire and BishopEdwin Broderick serving asco-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.[3][6]
In 1972, Ahern and another cleric walked out of aCatholic Interracial Council dinner in New York City. They did not want to be present during a speech by New York GovernorNelson Rockefeller, who had just vetoed aNew York Legislature bill onabortion rights for women.[7]
As an auxiliary bishop, Ahern continued to serve at Our Lady of Angels Church and was namedepiscopal vicar for the Bronx.[8] He served as episcopal vicar forStaten Island and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Staten Island from 1980 to 1990.[1][9] While at Blessed Sacrament, he established the Seton Foundation, which created schools and programs for children withspecial needs. He then became archdiocesan vicar for development.[5][2]
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Ahern resigned as an auxiliary bishop on April 26, 1994. He died on March 19, 2011[3] He was widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the spirituality of the French sister,Thérèse de Lisieux.[2]
The Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School in Staten Island is named after Patrick Ahern.[10]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by – | Auxiliary Bishop of New York 1970–1994 | Succeeded by – |
