Archbishop John J. Kain, St. Louis (1841-1903)

Last updated on: January 2, 2013 at 3:14 am by Pat McNamara

Archbishop John J. Kain, St. Louis (1841-1903) 2013-01-02T03:14:23-07:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

DIOCESE OF WHEELING. RIGHT REV. JOHN J. KAIN, Bishop of Wheeling.

John J. Kain was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, on the 31st of May, 1811, the only son of Jeremiah and Ellen Murphy Kain, who emigrated from the neighborhood of Macroom, in the county of Cork, Ireland, and married in this country. Their son first attended the academy then directed by the present Bishop of Wilmington, and, seeking to serve God in His sanctuary, obtained admission to the Preparatory Seminary of St. Charles, where, after a five years’ course, he was graduated in 1862. His philosophical and theological studies he pursued in St. Mary’s College, Baltimore; and he was ordained by Archbishop Spalding on the 2d of July, 1866. His field* of priestly labor embraced the valley of Virginia from the Potomac to Mount Jackson, and centred at Harper’s Ferry. Its extent may be seen in the fact that for a considerable time he had charge of the Catholics living in eight counties of West Virginia and four in Virginia. He then obtained an assistant to share his arduous labors. During his administration of this large district he repaired the churches at Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg, which had been greatly injured during the Civil War, and rebuilt those which had been destroyed at Winchester and Berkeley Springs. On the 21st of February, 1875, this laborious priest was elected Bishop of Wheeling, and was consecrated by Archbishop Bayley on the 23d of May, his aged mother, who had attained the age of fourscore, witnessing the exaltation of her son. At the beginning of the year 1885 the diocese of Wheeling contained thirty-four priests, who attended sixty-two churches, eight chapels, and forty stations. The Catholic white population was estimated at about twenty thousand. There were thirtyfour academies and schools, a hospital and asylum under the care of Visitation nuns and Sisters of St. Joseph.

John Gilmary Shea, The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the United States, Embracing Sketches of All the Archbishops and Bishops from the Establishment of the See of Baltimore to the Present Time (New York: Office of Catholic Publications, 1886), 391.

NOTE: John Joseph Kain became Archbishop of St. Louis in 1893, and held that office until his death on October 13, 1903.

Bishops

Irish Americans

Missouri Catholics

West Virginia Catholics

Previous Post

January 1, 2013

A New Year's Day Sermon, New York, 1901

Next Post

January 3, 2013 Holy Name Entertainment, Brooklyn, 1878

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul shook a viper off his hand into the fire on the island of Cyprus.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE