(The biography of His excellency, Bishop of New York, John Connolly, O.P.):

He was the second Bishop of New York from 1814 to until he died in 1825, and a Dominician friar as well. Appointed Bishop by Pope Pius VII on October 4, 1814, John was born and raised in County Meath, Ireland. Then after receiving an early education in his homeland, he continued his studies in Belgium and a little later entered the Order of Friars Preachers (The Dominicians) at a young age. He was soon sent to Rome, where he was ordained a priest on September 24, 1774. He fulfilled various capacities in Rome including being a professor at the St. Clement Dominician convent, of which a little later became prior. He was a representative of Irish Bishops, and rescued the Irish and English colleges, plus including his own convent, church, and library from being destroyed by French invaders. He was ordained the second Bishop of New York at an episcopal installation and coronation on November 6, 1814 in Rome by Cardinal Cesare Brancadoro along with Archbishops Giovanni Francesco Guerrieri and Giovanni Marchetti serving as co-consecrators as well. Bishop John sailed from Italy and stopped by Ireland on the way to attempt at recruiting priets to his Diocese at St. Kieran's College. He didn't make it to New York until on November 24, 1815, on a ship called "Sally" while being on a transatlantic journey that lasted 67 days and Bishop John was thought to be lost at sea. His predecessor, the first Bishop of New York, Bishop Richard Luke Concanen was prevented from going to New York due to an embargo being in place for Europe. Bishop John was the first Bishop of the New York Diocese to minister in person to his flock. Bishop John was described as being a "small-sized man" and also of a man of more than ordinary mildness and gentleness of character, who would go to the city on foot to tend and care for poor and ill. As also described by historian, Rev. and Dr. Peter Keenan Guilday, "It may be well doubted if, in the entire history of the Catholic Church in the United States, any other bishop began his episcopal life under such disheartening conditions." At the time of Bishop John's arrival, the Diocese of New York had covered all of New York and part of New Jersey, had only 4 priests, three churches, and close to 15,000 parishioners; most of them being of Irish descent, some also being of French, German, and English descent as well. The three churches were, St. Peter's on Barclay St., St. Patrick's on Mulberry St. in the New York City/Manhattan area and with the third being St. Mary's in the present capital of New York, Albany. During Bishop John's tenure, he erected new churches in Utica and Rochester, founded an orphanage, and welcomed the Sisters of Charity. Bishop John had traveled over 1,000 miles on horseback, preaching and administering the sacraments to half-starved immigrants, mostly from Ireland (his homecountry) who were building the Erie Canal. Bishop John entered eternal life on February 6, 1825 at the age of 77 in New York City, he is now buried at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral. Bishop John's mortal remains were previously and temporarily displaced in a vault by trustees to make way for an influential, important layman. His tomb was not rediscovered until in 1976 when the building was being renovated; Terence Cardinal Cooke had Bishop John's remains reinterred to their present location. (Source/Credit: Wikipedia)