MC CLOSKEY, JOHN. - First American cardinal, b. in Brooklyn (New York) on 20 March 1810, d. in New York on 10 Oct. 1885. Ordained a priest in 1834, he taught philosophy at the new seminary of Nyack. From 1835 to 1837 he was in Rome; having returned to his homeland, he was pastor of the church of St. Joseph in New York; in 1844 auxiliary bishop of New York; in 1847 first bishop of Albany.
The Catholic population, both through the lively zeal of the pastor and through the continuous flow of immigration, was constantly increasing, and along with it the priests and churches increased. The cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, the theological seminary of St. John in Troy, schools and orphanages bear witness to the diligent activity displayed by the first bishop of Albany. At its erection, the diocese counted about 25 churches with thirty-four priests, two orphanages and a few schools: after fourteen years, in 1861, the churches had reached the considerable number of 117, there were twenty-seven schools and six orphanages. On 6 May 1864 McCloskey was called to the government of the archdiocese of New York. He took part in the Vatican Council, where he was a member of the commission on discipline. Pius IX created him on 15 March 1875 cardinal of the title of St. Mary above Minerva. On 25 May 1879 he consecrated the cathedral of St. Patrick.
Bibliography2 works
Silvio Furlani
MC CLOSKEY, WILLIAM GEORGE
American prelate, b. in Brooklyn (New York) on 10 Nov. 1823, d. in Louisville (Kentucky) on 17 Sept. 1909.
Ordained a priest in 1857, he taught moral theology, Sacred Scripture and Latin for six years at Mount St. Mary's College. In 1859 he received the unanimous appointment of all the American bishops as the first rector of the American College in Rome.
He directed the College during the very difficult period of the Civil War, when the conflicts and hatreds between North and South, between the Union and the Confederates, had their repercussions within the College. Bishop of Louisville from 1868; energetic, strong-willed and tenacious, he carried out tireless activity in his diocese. He found there 64 churches and 80 priests: at his death the churches had reached the number of 165, and the priests had become 200.
Bibliography
Silvio Furlani