The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-28
CATHOLIC NEWS.
Vicar General O'Connor May
Be Appointed Bishop of
the Trenton Diocese.
THE MONTH OF MARY
Preparing for Confirmation at st.
Bridget's-st. Michael's Holy
Name Society.

1t is more than HKeiy tnaU rope LEO ALL.
win honor the Diocese of Newark by select
ing as a successor to the late Bishop O'Far-
rell of Trenton one of her ~favorite and most
learned priests in the person of Vicar-Gen-
eral O'Connor of Seton Hall. 1t is said on
the best authority that Father O'Connor's
name was one of the three selected by the
Bishops, and that, further, he was named
first, that is, the one whom the Archbishop
and Bishops believed most worthy for the
vacant see.
Father O'Connor is qualified in every way
for the position. He is one of the most
learned theologians of the State. his friends
claim. He studied at the American College
in Rome, and for fifteen years has been a
professor at Seton Hall College, South
Orange. He has rare executive abilities,
and having been so closely allied to Bishop
Wigger, and also having performed the
duties of Vicar-General, he Is more or less
conversant with the demands upon q bishop
and the duties to be performed. He was
never on the Mission.
Nothing, of course, would please Bishop,
Wigger better than to see his Vicar General
eleyated 10 the Bishopfic. Arch bishop Cor
rigan is also said to favor Father O'Connor,
although in the list selected by the Bishop, a
New York priests name is suggested. Mgr.
Farley is said to be the one. Many believe,
however, he will be appointed Bishop OF
| Albany. Father McFaul of Trenton is said
to be the third priest selected by the Bishop
This selection was merely an act of courtesy
~ the priests of the Trenton diocese, the
;rremoyable rectors of which had selected
from among their own priests three names,
Wv Rev. BERNARD Mulligan, Rev. John A.
O,Grady and Rev. James A. McFaul.
It is safeto say this news will not be rel
ished by the priests of the diocese of Tren-
ton. In q matter or this Kind, they Deneve
In Home Rule. IS
AN. OLD STORY REVIVED.
Immediately after the Bishops Confer
ence. it was rumored that there was a hkell-
hood of Bishop Wigger being transferred to
the see at Trenton and a new Bishop being
named for Newark. This rumor was based
on an old story that is revived every once
in a while, and which by some is said to be
true and by others said to be false. The
story is this:-When in 1881 the diocese Of
Trenton was established, it being cut Off
from the Newark diocese. which was erected
In 1858, there were two Bishops to be named,
one for the new diocese of Trenton and the
other for Newark, to succeed Bishop Corri-
gan, who had been appointed Co
adjutor to Cardinal McClosKey
with the right of succession,
in October, 1880. Three names were select
ed for each district by the Archbishop, and
Bishops and forwarded to Rome. There it
was decided to send DR.. Wigger to Trenton
and DR.. O'Farrell to Newark. Blu certain
influences were brought to bear In Rome
which resulted in DR.. Wigger's name being
attached to the Newark bull and DR.. O'Far-
rell to the Trenton bull. The mistake was
not discovered till after the Fisher mans
Seal had been attached, and then it was
looked upon as an act of Providence. and
the Pope would not make the change.
The 'sfull mistake story is not believed by
many. All admit, however, that it was the
intention of the powers that were then that
DR.. Wigger should go to Trenton and DR..
O'Farrell to Newark. But the change is ex-
planned by the ''other folks in this way.
They say the most worthy, the more worthy
and the worthy were chosen for each diocese.
DR.. O'Farrell was the most worthy for
Newark. and DR.. Wigger the most worthy.
For Trenton, DR.. Wigger was the most
worthy and DIR. OFarrell the worthy. The
Archbishop thought this clearly showed his
desires. However, other influences pre-
vailed, and the appointments were made the
opposite to what was desired.
But as to Bishop Wigger being transferred
now, there is not the slightest likelihood. If
he is ever transferred it will be to the Arch
ieopiscopal see of New York. 1t is well
known that he only about two years ago re-
fused the appointment as Archbishop of
Milwaukee.
NOT SOUND ON THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
1t is almost positive a Trenton priest will
not be elevated to the honor. When the
Trenton name are forwarded to Rome there
will be conveyed the information that
neither one is sound on the school question.
ALI three were interested in the parochial
school bill which was in the Legislature last
year. They urged It's passage and used
every effort to put it through. AS is well
known, since the death of the late Father
Corrigan of Hoboken, Bishop Wigger has
his course on the school question. That
course is directly opposite to the course pur-
sued by the three Trenton priests, so that on
this ground alone it is obvious the way their
names will be treated in the Eternal City.
Bishop Wigger sails for Rome on June 6.
He will be gone three months. 1t is said his
visit is merely one for pleasure and for the
benefit of his health