John Henry Tihen | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Denver Titular Bishop of Bosana | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Denver |
| In office | September 21, 1917— January 6, 1931 |
| Predecessor | Nicholas Chrysostom Matz |
| Successor | Urban John Vehr |
| Previous post | Bishop of Lincoln (1911 to 1917) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 26, 1886 by Michael Heiss |
| Consecration | July 6, 1911 by John Joseph Hennessy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1861-07-14)July 14, 1861 |
| Died | January 14, 1940(1940-01-14) (aged 78) Wichita, Kansas, US |
| Motto | Ut omnes unum sint (That all may be one) |
John Henry Tihen (July 14, 1861 – January 14, 1940) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Lincoln in Nebraska (1911–1917) and as bishop of theDiocese of Denver in Colorado (1917–1931).
John Tihen was born on July 14, 1861, inOldenburg,Indiana, to Herman Bernard and Angela (née Bruns) Tihen, bothGerman immigrants.[1] When he was still a child, he and his family moved toJefferson City,Missouri, where he attendedparochial schools.[2] After graduating fromSt. Benedict College in Atchison, Kansas, he enteredSt. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin, in 1882.[1]
Tihen wasordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Louis by ArchbishopMichael Heiss on April 26, 1886, inSt. Louis, Missouri.[3] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Tihen as acurate at St. John's Parish in St. Louis. In 1888, he followed BishopJohn Hennessy to the newDiocese of Wichita in Kansas[1] Tihen served asrector of the cathedral andchancellor of the diocese.[1] In 1907, Tihen was namedvicar general, that same year, the Vatican elevated him to the rank ofdomestic prelate.[1]
On May 12, 1911, Tihen was appointed the second bishop of Lincoln byPope Pius X.[3] He received hisepiscopalconsecration Wichita on July 6, 1911, from Hennessy, with BishopsNicholas Matz andRichard Scannell serving asco-consecrators at the Pro-Cathedral of Saint Aloysius.[3]
Following the death of Matz, Tihen was named the third bishop of Denver byPope Benedict XV on September 21, 1917. He wasinstalled on December 21, 1917.[3]
DuringWorld War I, Tihen urged parishioners to buyLiberty bonds to support the American war effort. He also supported the work of theNational Catholic War Council to provide chaplains for Catholic troops. He organized students at Catholic schools as the U.S. Boys Working Reserve and the Children's Red Cross Campaign.[2] In recognition of his support for the war effort, Tihen was appointed by Denver Mayor W. F. R. Mills as a delegate to the Mid-Continent Congress of theLeague of Nations in February 1919.[2] During the 1920s, he defended the Catholic church in Colorado from attacks by theKu Klux Klan, which he condemned as "an anti-Catholic and un-American society."[2] He also supportedwomen's suffrage and the labor movement, and foundedThe Denver Catholic Register in 1905.[2]
During his tenure, Tihen organized the diocesanCatholic Charities; increased the number ofparochial schools from 31 to 49, and the number of priests from 174 to 229; dedicated 41 churches; and establishedLoretto Heights College, threehospitals, anorphanage, and a home for the aged.[2]
On January 6, 1931,Pope Pius XI accepted Tihen's resignation as bishop of Denver and appointed himtitular bishop of Bosana.[3] In September 1931, he left Denver to take up residence at St. Francis Hospital inWichita. Kansas.[2] He became an invalid in March 1938, after suffering aparalytic stroke.[2] Tihen died in Wichita on January 14, 1940, at age 78, and was buried atMount Olivet Cemetery inWheat Ridge, Colorado.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Lincoln 1911–1917 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Denver 1917–1931 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Established | Titular Bishop of Bosana 1931–1940 | Succeeded by Vincentas Brizgys |
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