The New York herald., 1870-08-09
Rev. John Shanahnn.

Barclay street. Father Shanahan was known
throughout tue United States and at the time OF his
death was the third Oldest priest in the Union,
Father McElroy, OF Boston, being the oldest and
Father Herman, OF Lancaster, Pa, the next.
Father Shanahan was born in Kilkenny, Ireland,
in 1892, and was, therefore, In his seventy-eghth
year. He came to this country when young and
went to St. Mary's Seminary a. Emmettsburg, where
he studied for the priesthood and where
he afterwards acted as professor. Numbers
of tho clergy Of to-day received their
theological and philosophical instruction under
his tuition. Among the many who were his pup Is
were the late Archbishop Hughes, Archbishop
McCloskey Bishop Whaen, of Wheeling; the late
Bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, and others. In
1923 he was ordained and said his first mass at
little church on joy street, Brooklyn, where the
Cathedral now stands. This was the only church on
Long Island at the time, and only tile walls were
up temporary roof was placed on the walls on
the day Of the mass: Bishop Conley and three other
priests al that time had as province the entire New
England states and New York and New
Jersey Father Shanahan was stationed at Paterson
for H,1" pa parish. The old wooden building which
served as church at the time is still In existence,
but has been transformed and devoted to very dif.
ferent style of business. He shortly afterwards
sent as a missionary, with district extending from
Albany to Utica. Travelling on horseback, with his
vestments and necessary altar appendages In va
lise, he administered religion to the labOrers along
the canals Wherever crowd OF laborers were at
wouId administer tie sacrafnents to such as wanted
them The people he met were all poor and had
little or no money to spare SO that tho good priest
was obliged to live as a thorough mis- iOnary. Re.
turning to Troy he received orders from Bishop
Hughes, then coadjutator bishop OF New. York,
to start church at Troy, although the
Catholics In and around Troy could be easily accom-
modated In a room twelve feet square, In 1s49 he
went to California, and Bishop Alemany, OF Monte
rev gave Father Shanahan the counties OF Sonora
aud San Joaquin as missionary district. Coming
back to New York city he was stationed for a time
at the Church OF the Nativity, Second avenue: Fiji.
teen years ago he was transferred to St. Peters
church, In Barclay street. and there renamed until
his death. During the past six years he has been
dispensation from Rome by whicn he was permitted
to say the votive mass Of the Blessed Virgin when
he offered up daily until within one week OF his
death.
In his life, Father shanahan was q truly good
priest, and might readily be taken as the persOnld-
cation OF 81 FaeE as
accomplishment-and, for this reason, had large
number Of pentents from all parts Of the city. He
was exceedingly studlOus, and all his spare cash
was expended in the purchase Of books OF which he
gave away enough to furnish i've libraries, Among
other libraries which contain numbers OF volumes
contributed by him, are those OF the Troy Seminary,
OF Bishop Bailey at Newark; Of Bishop Shanahan at
Harrisburg, and of Bishop Byrne at Little Rock. Num-
beIs Of missionary priests have received from him
In their work through the West He constantly
kept one young man at some OF The seminar!es pre-.
pairing for the priesthood, and as soon would
be ordained Father Shanahan would find another
10 take his place as a student. Che clergy In the
diocese generally confessed TO him and iound him.
no doubt, wise counsellor. During his blindness
the clergy, or other friends who would visit him,
would be asked to read to him. They could do him
no greater favor, and they were were Of course, ready
on the times and could speak knowingly on almost
any subject. lie Will be buried to.mofrow from st.
mass viii be celebrated at ten O'Clock. at which the
clergy OF the entire archdiocese Will assist.