The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-06
OF ARCHBISHOP
kEANE ACCEPTED
'HE METROPOLITAN SEE OF DU-
BuQUE AWAITS HIS SUCCESSOR.


BUQUE AWAITS HIS SUCCESSOR.
A Scholarly, Unassuming Prelate Who
Did Noble Work for Education and
Religion Lays Down the Burden of
the Episcopate-First Rector Of the
Catholic University-A Prominent
Figure in the American Church
Sketch of His Career.
Some time ago the Most Reverend
John J. Keane, D. D., Archbishop of
Dubuque, Iowa, rendered his resigna-
tion of that Metropolitan See to the
Holy Father, and last week he re-
ceiVed from Rome official notification
of Its acceptance.
The resignation of Archbishop Keane
occasions no surprise to those who
know how precarious the condition of
his health has been for the past few
years, For more than a year he has
been practically incapacitated from
performing the duties of his exalted
ofiEe; and he welcomes the oppor
tunHty to lay aside the burden of ad-
responsibility which has
rested upon his shoulders for so many
years. About two years ago he found
it Necessary to petition the Holy See
forf the appointment of a Coadjutor
with the right of succession, but for
ond reason or another no one was
designated for the position The Most
Referend Archbishop will continue to
preside over the See of Dubuque until
his1 successor is appointed.
archbishop Keane is now in his sew
entW-second year. He was born on
September u, 1889, in Ballyshannon,
County Donegal, Ireland, and. emigra-
ted to America with his parents in
1876. At the close of his school days
he 8entered the business world as a
clerk; but before reaching the years
of manhood he decided to embrace the
religious life. He entered ST. Charles
College. Maryland, in 1859, to pursue
hisselassical course. After graduation
he completed his theological studies in
st. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, and
was ordained to the Holy Priesthood
on July 2. 1866, by Archbishop Spald-
ing. He was appointed assistant pas
tor of ST. Patrick's Church, Washing
ton, where he remained until his conse-
Grafton as Bishop of Richmond, Va, on
August 25, 1878.
He participated in the deliberations
of the Third Plenary Council of Balti-
more IN 1884, where the project of
founding the Catholic University at
was discussed and decided
upon. At the request of the American
Hierarchy Bishop Keane was selected
by the Holy See to devote his time and
energy to the establishment of this
great institution of higher learning and
in 1886 he was appointed it's first
Rector After the laying of the
in 1883 Bishop Keane
resigned the See of Richmond and
was appointed Titular Bishop of
Jasso. He superintended the erec-
tion of the University, secured a
large endowment for it, organized
the courses of study, and brought that
institution to it's present high state
of efficiency. On September 28, 1896,
he resigned his position as Rector OF
the University and went to Rome,
where he was made Titular Archbishop
of Damascus and Consultor to the Con-
gregation of the Propaganda. On July
"a, 1900, he was transferred to the
Metropolitan See of Dubuque in sue.
cession to Archbishop Hennessey, and
was installed the following September.
The Archbishop of Dubuque is pre-
late of scholarly attainments and great
holiness of life. For more than quar-
ter of century he has been prom
inent figure in the American Church
to whose growth and development he
has contributed very materially. He
has always taken the deepest interest
in every movement for the good of re-
ligion and has been unsparing of self
in laboring for the advancement of
every cause that would tend to promote
the influence of the Church in Amer
lea.
He was a recognized leader in the
total abstinence movement until ILL
health made an active interest in it
As a priest, he was one
of the founders of the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union of America and as
late as three years ago was its Presi-
dent.
Archbishop Keane is very intimate
friend of Archbishop Ireland and spent
his summer vacation during the past
two years at the st. Paul Seminary