John Moore (bishop of St. Augustine)

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Moore
Bishop of St. Augustine
SeeDiocese of St. Augustine
In officeMay 13, 1877 -
July 30, 1901
PredecessorAugustin Verot
SuccessorWilliam John Kenny
Orders
OrdinationApril 9, 1860
by Antonio Ligi-Bussi
ConsecrationMay 13, 1877
by Patrick Neeson Lynch
Personal details
Born(1835-06-27)June 27, 1835
Castletown, County Westmeath, Ireland
DiedJuly 30, 1901(1901-07-30) (aged 66)
St. Augustine, Florida, United States
NationalityIrish
DenominationCatholic
EducationCollege of Cambrai
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
SignatureJohn Moore's signature

John Moore (June 27, 1835 – July 30, 1901) was an Irish-born prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the second Bishop of St. Augustine from 1877 to 1901.

Biography

Early life

John Moore was born in Castletown, County Westmeath, in Ireland on June 27, 1835.[1] His family immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, when he was age 14. Moore attended the seminary in Charleston. He was sent to Europe to study at the College of Cambrai in Cambrai, France. Moore then studied theology at the College of Propaganda in Rome.[2]

Moore was ordained into the priesthood by Archbishop Antonio Ligi-Bussi in Rome on April 9, 1860, for the Diocese of Charleston.[3] After his ordination, Moore returned to Charleston to assume assignments in parishes, most prominently St. Patrick's.[4]

Bishop of St. Augustine

On February 16, 1877, Moore was appointed by Pope Pius IX as bishop of St. Augustine. He was consecrated on May 13, 1877, by Bishop Patrick Lynch at St John Baptist Pro-Cathedral in Charleston.[3] At that time, the diocese covered the entire State of Florida.

A contingent of Benedictine monks arrived in San Antonio, Florida, in 1886, initially to serve German immigrants. In 1887, a yellow fever outbreak in Florida killed several priests in the diocese. That same year, a fire destroyed the Cathedral of St. Augustine. At Moore's request, a group of Jesuit fathers arrived in Tampa, Florida, in 1888 to replace the priests lost to illness.[2]

In August 1888, the St. Mary's Home for Orphan Girls was opened in Jacksonville, Florida. That same year, yellow fever broke out again in Jacksonville. With the local priest, Reverend William John Kenny, sidelined by the disease, Moore rushed there to run the parish and tend to the sick.[2]

In 1889, Moore asked the Benedictines to establish several mission churches on the Florida Gulf Coast from Pasco County northward. He requested that the Jesuits cover Hillsborough County southward to Key West.[2]

Death and legacy

During the late 1890s, Moore suffered a debilitating stroke. Moore died at his home in St. Augustine on July 30, 1901.[5][3] Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Florida, is named for him.

References

  1. ^ Moore, John, in Who's Who in America (1901-1902 edition); via archive.org
  2. ^ a b c d York, Catholic editing company, New (1914). The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. V. 1-3 ... Catholic editing Company.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop John Moore [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  4. ^ McNally, Michael J. (2006). "Reconstruction and Parish Life in Charleston, South Carolina, 1865-1877: A Pastor's Perspective". American Catholic Studies. 117 (1): 45–67. ISSN 2161-8542.
  5. ^ "Death of Bishop John Moore". The Birmingham News. Jacksonville, Florida. 30 July 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of St. Augustine
1877–1901 		Succeeded by


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