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Paul Leonard Hagarty,O.S.B., O.B.E. (March 20, 1909 – September 22, 1984) was an Americanprelate of theCatholic Church. He was the firstBishop of Nassau (1960–81), having previously served asVicar Apostolic of the Bahama Islands (1950–60).
Hagarty was born inGreene,Iowa, one of ten children of James Herbert and Lucy Belle (née O'Connell) Hagarty.[1] He attended Oakland School No. 8 and Sacred Heart Academy before entering Greene Catholic High School.[1] He then studied atLoras College inDubuque, where he paid for his first year with the compensation he received from a railroad accident in which he suffered a broken leg.[2] He paid the rest of his way through college with a Saturday job atJ. C. Penney, and graduated with aBachelor of Arts degree in 1930.[2]
He worked as ageologist for theUnion Pacific Railroad, as well as a juniormeteorologist with theNational Weather Service, before joining theOrder of St. Benedict, more commonly known as the Benedictines, atSt. John's Abbey inCollegeville,Minnesota, in 1931.[2] He made his profession as a Benedictine monk on November 6, 1932, taking the nameLeonard.[1] He wasordained to thepriesthood on June 6, 1936.[3]
In 1937, Hagarty was sent by his superiors to serve as amissionary to theBahama Islands, a British colony, where he served as acurate atSt. Francis Xavier Church inNassau for five years.[1] In addition to his pastoral work, he was also achaplain for the localleper colony, Goodwill Orphanage, and the general hospital.[2]
DuringWorld War II, he served as an auxiliary chaplain to British and American troops in the Bahamas.[1] He developed a close relationship with BishopJohn Kevenhoerster, who brought Hagarty with him on his collecting tours and later sent him to theUniversity of Oxford for postgraduate studies.[2] He became director of education following his return, reforming the Catholic school system.[2]
On June 25, 1950, Hagarty was appointedVicar Apostolic of the Bahama Islands andTitular Bishop of Arba byPope Pius XII.[3] He received hisepiscopalconsecration on the following October 19 from ArchbishopAmleto Cicognani at theChurch of Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Nassau.[3] The apostolic vicariate was elevated to theDiocese of Nassau byPope John XXIII on July 5, 1960, with Hagarty becoming its firstBishop.[3]
During his tenure, he greatly expanded Catholic participation in education[4] and social development. He attended theSecond Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. In February 1979, he hostedPope John Paul II during his visit to Nassau.[2] He was also named an Officer of The Order of The British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
Hagarty resigned as bishop on July 17, 1981 due to poor health.[3] He later died at St. John's Abbey at age 75, and is entombed at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nassau.[2]
At the invitation of Bishop Paul Leonard Hagarty, OSB, five Dominican Sisters arrived in Nassau in December, 1956, to begin preparations for a teacher training school. Aquinas College opened the following month
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| Preceded by none | Bishop of Nassau 1960–1981 | Succeeded by |
