The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-09
BISHOP LEN|HAN
Official Announcement Made Of
Erection Of New
Diocese Of the Church With
Great Falls as the See.

The following is taken from a late
issue Of the Great Falls (Mont.)
Tribune:
A dispatch from Washington, D. c.,
says: "The apostolic delegate has re-
ceived brief from Rome erecting the
diocese of Great Falls, Mont, and ap-
pointing Rev. M. Lehman, priest of
the archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, the
first bishop of the new see.
'"This action creates two bishoprics
in Montana, the see of Helena pre-
viously having jurisdiction over the
whole state"
The Tribune, early in February, an
nounced that the diocese of Great
Falls would be erected. The state
ment was then denied at Helena. A
week ago, The Tribune announced
that it was officially decided at Rome
| to create the diocese of Great Falls.
That statement was also denied. Both
statements are now officially con-
| irmed.
Ever since the death of Bishop Bron-
| del, the erection of new diocese in
the state of Montana has been under
consideration by the authorities of the
church, Bishop Brondel having, sew
eral years ago recommended such ac-
ton. Until early in February, it had
not been decided whether Great Falls
or Billings should be the seat of the
new diocese, but at that time Great
Falls was determined upon and the
announcement was made exclusively
in The Tribune
The counties of Cascade, Chouteau,
Flathead, Teton, Fergus, Valley, Vel
lowstone, Dawson, Custer, Park, Rose
bud, Sweet Grass and part of NIeagher
county will be embraced in the new
diocese, and the rest of the state will
be in the diocese of Helena. Father
Cleary of Minneapolis, one of the most
brilliant priests of the church, will be
the bishop of Helena, but the appoint
ment has not yet been officially an
! nOunced.
| The creation of the diocese of Great
Falls means much to the church in the
northern part of the state, and the ma
terial benefits to the city will be large.
Soon after Bishop Lenihan shall have
entered upon his new duties. cathed-
raj and bishops house will be erected
here. Extensive additions to the CO.
lumbus hospital. that have been plan
ned, will soon be commenced. and the
Ursuline nuns will, within a year,
erect large school buildings upon their
lots on Second avenue north, between
Eighth and Ninth streets.
Dean Lenihan, who has been chosen
to be bishop of the newly erected do
cesc of Great Falls, was born in Dubu-
que in the year 1854, his parents being
among the pioneers of Dubuque, Ed
mund and Mary Lenihan, who came to
Dubuque, then little more than set
Element, in the early sos.
He first attended the cathedral
school until lie received his first COM
munion, after which he entered, as Il
charter student, the College of St.
Joseph, when that institution first
opened it's doors through the efforts Of
! Father Downcy.
The quiet, grave. young student
soon established an aptitude beyond
his years and won recognition from his
instructors for his brilliancy and devo-
ton to his calling. After graduation
from the college the young man en-
tered the Montreal seminary. where lie
studied his theology and philosophy.
On the last vacation trip home be-
young aspirant for the sacred office of
the priesthood was made the recipient
of his first orders from the hands OF
the late Archbishop Henncssy. He
was ordained ut the Montreal semi
nary % years ago next December. and
from that time until the present has
been absolutely devoted to his sacred
calling, filling successfully the various
parishes of Lyons, Iowa, for seven
months; Vale, Iowa. for seven years,
and the remaining II years at Mar
slalltown.
The work of the priest in Marshall
town has been along n broad scale.
Through his efforts the present impos-
ing Catholic church has been erected,
the Sisters home and the grand Line
han memorial hospital being just COM
pleted at cost Of $4,000. The new
hospital. erected to care for the i'll and
distressed and which is worthy mon
ument to the memory of the late
brother of Dean Lenihan, Bishop
Thomas Lenihan of Cheyenne, Wyo.,
is a beautiful tribute to the work of
the man who has given up all things
to follow in the way marked out for
those who follow in the footsteps of
the Divine Master.
Dean Lenihan, who is soon to have
the honors of the bishopric conferred
upon him, is the second youngest
child of the late Edmund and Mary
Lehman. His brothers and sisters,
we'll and most favorably known in
| n k1,p