Past Bishops
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Most. Rev Bishop Robert J. Cunningham
Bishop Robert J. Cunningham was born on June 18, 1943 in Buffalo, New York, son of Cecil and Grace Cunningham. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1969 at St. Joseph New Cathedral in Buffalo. He holds a Licentiate Degree in Canon Law. His assigments included: Associate Pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kenmore; Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist, Kenmore; Secretary to Bishop D. Head and Assistant Chancellor of the Diocese of Buffalo; Marraige Tribunal Judge; Vice-Chancellor and then Chancellor of the Diocese of Buffalo; and Diocesan Administrator. He has served on a number of boards including Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Buffalo and Ogdensburg; Baker Victory Services in Lackawanna; the Cantalician Center in Buffalo; St. Joseph's Home in Ogdensburg; the former Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg; Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora; and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore. He was also a charter member of the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation Board. On March 9, 2004, he was appointed the thirteenth Bishop of Ogdensburg, and was ordained and installed on May 18, 2004 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg. On April 21, 2009, he was appointed the tenth Bishop of Syracuse. He was ordained and installed on May 26, 2009 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. On September 21, 2012 he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Rochester until the appointment of a new Bishop. While Bishop, he served on the Administrative Committee of the United States Conferance of Catholic Bishops, as well as the Committee for Priorities and Plans, the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, and the Sub-committee on Native American Catholics. He retired on August 8, 2019. His motto is "The Church our Mother."
Bishop R. Cunningham Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. James M. Moynihan
Bishop James M. Moynihan was born on July 6, 1932 in Rochester, New York, the son of Michael J. Moynihan and Caroline Horigan Moynihan. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 15, 1957 in Rome, Italy. He held a Licentiate Degree in Theology from the North American College and Gregorian University, Rome, and a Doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University, where he graduated summa cum laude. His assignments included: Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Rochester; defender of the bond and promoter of justice in the Diocesan Tribunal; secretary to Bishop James E. Kearney; Vice-Chancellor and then Chancellor of the Diocese of Rochester; Catholic Chaplain for Monroe County Jail, Rochester Police Department and Highland Hospital, Rochester; Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Penfield; Director of the Bishop's Annual Catholic Thanksgiving Appeal; and Associate Secretary General, Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He was appointed the ninth Bishop of Syracuse on April 4, 1995, and was ordained and installed on May 29, 1995. He retired on April 21, 2009. He died on March 6, 2017 and is buried in the crypt under the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.
His motto was "Support one another in love."
Bishop James M. Moynihan Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Joseph T. O'Keefe
Bishop Joseph T. O'Keefe was born on March 12, 1919 in New York City, the son of Michael O'Keefe and Bridget O'Sullivan O'Keefe. He was ordained a priest on April 17, 1948 for the Archdiocese of New York. His assignments included: Associate Pastor of St. Luke's in the Bronx; Biology instructor and Dean of Studies at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx; Editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia for School and Home; Biology instructor at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry; Biology Instructor at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers; Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York; Archdiocesan Secretary for Education; Chancellor and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York; and Pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Manhattan. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York on July 3, 1982, and Titular Bishop of Tre Taverne. He was consecrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on September 8, 1982. He was appointed the eighth Bishop of Syracuse on June 16, 1987 and was ordained and installed on August 3, 1987. He retired on May 29, 1995. He died on September 2, 1997 and is buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse New York. His motto was "Look to Jesus."
Bishop Joseph T. O'Keefe Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Thomas J. Costello
Bishop Thomas J. Costello was born on February 23, 1929 in Camden, New York, the son of James G. Costello and Ethel Dupont Costello. He was a native of St. Peter's Church in Rome, New York. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1954 for the Diocese of Syracuse. His assignments included: Associate Pastor and then Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Syracuse; Secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal; Superintendent of Catholic Schools; Episcopal Vicar of the Southern Region; and Vicar General of the Diocese under Bishops Frank Harrison, Joseph O'Keefe, and James Moynihan. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Syracuse on January 10, 1978 and was consecrated and installed on March 13, 1978 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. He was appointed Vicar for Priests on May 5, 2000. He officially retired on March 23, 2004, but remained Vicar General for the Diocese until May 26, 2009. He died on February 15, 2019 and is buried in St. Peter's cemetary in Rome, New York. His motto was "As one who serves."
Bishop Thomas J. Costello Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Frank J. HarrisonBishop Frank J. Harrison was born in Syracuse on August 20, 1912, the son of Frank J. Harrison and Mary Flynn Harrison. He was a native of St. Lucy's Church in Syracuse. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1937 in Rochester for the Diocese of Syracuse. His assignments included: Assistant Director, Utica Catholic Charities; Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Utica; Associate Pastor, St. Mary's Church, Binghamton; Associate Pastor, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse; first Pastor of St. Andrew, Syracuse; Pastor of St. Patrick, Binghamton; and Pastor of St. James, Syracuse. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Syracuse on March 1, 1971 and was consecrated on April 22, 1971. He was appointed the seventh Bishop of Syracuse on November 16, 1977. He retired on June 16, 1987. He died on May 1, 2004 and is buried in his family plot at St. Agnes Cemetery, Syracuse. His motto was "Unity in Christ."
Bishop Frank J. Harrison Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. David Frederick CunninghamBishop David Frederick Cunningham was born on December 3, 1900 in Walkerville, Montana, the son of David Cunningham and Mary Fitzgerald Cunningham. He was ordained a priest on June 12, 1926 in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rochester, New York. His assignments included: Assistant Pastor of St. Ambrose Church, Endicott; Assistant at Loretto Restorative Care Unit; Assistant at St. John's Church, Camden, New York; Secretary to Bishops Curley, Duffy, and Foery; Chancellor of the Diocese of Syracuse; Pastor of St. John the Baptist, Syracuse; and Vicar General of the Diocese of Syracuse. He was named Titular Bishop of Lampsacus and Auxiliary Bishop of Syracuse on April 5, 1950, and was consecrated Bishop on June 8, 1950. His consecration marked the first time when a priest ordained for Syracuse was advanced to a Bishop. He participated in the Second Vatican Council for the Diocese of Syracuse and attended all four sessions between 1962 and 1965. On June 21, 1967, he was appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Syracuse with right of succession, and on August 4, 1970 he was named the sixth Bishop of Syracuse. He officially retired on December 3, 1975, but continued to serve as Apostolic Administrator. He died on February 22, 1979, and is buried in the priests' plot in St. Mary's Cemetery, Dewitt. His motto was "All Things in Charity."
Bishop David Frederick Cunningham Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Walter Andrew FoeryBishop Walter Andrew Foery was born on July 6, 1890 in Rochester, New York, the son of William Foery and Agnes O'Brien Foery. He was ordained a priest on June 10, 1916 in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rochester, New York. His assignments included: Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Rochester; Director of Rochester New York Catholic Charities; Pastor of Most Holy Rosary Church, Rochester; and Vice Chairman of the Rochester Council of Social Agencies. He was appointed 5th Bishop of Syracuse on December 14, 1886. He was the youngest priest ever appointed to be Bishop of Syracuse and held this post longer than any of his predecessors. He was consecrated Bishop on August 18, 1937 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Rochester and installed on September 1, 1937. On December 11, 1961, he was appointed Assistant at the Pontifical Throne. While Bishop, he helped establish LeMoyne College and the former Maria Regina College, ordained 257 priests, opened 10 high schools and 38 grammar schools, erected 42 new parishes, dedicated 84 new church buildings, opened Pius X, a retreat house for diocesan priests and lay persons, opened 3 new hospitals in different parts of the diocese, and opened a new chancery building. He also launched several CYO programs and provided 2 youth camps. He retired on August 4, 1970. He died on May 10, 1978 and is buried in the priests' plot in St. Mary's Cemetery, Dewitt. His motto was "Stand Firm in the Faith."
Bishop Walter Andrew Foery Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. John Aloysius DuffyBishop John Aloysius Duffy was born on October 29, 1884 in Jersey City, NJ, son of Patrick Joseph Duffy and Anna Marie Smith Duffy. He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1908. His assignments included: Assistant at Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken, New Jersey; professor of Literature and Languages, Seton Hall College; instructor of Church History, Newark Seminary; Chancellor for the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey; Domestic Prelate to His Holiness, Pope Pius XI with the title of Rt. Rev. Msgr.; Vicar General of the Diocese of Newark; Administrator of the Diocese of Newark; and Pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City. He was appointed the fourth Bishop of the Syracuse on April 21, 1933. He was consecrated Bishop on June 11, 1933 in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey and was installed as Bishop in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse on July 11, 1933. On January 9, 1937 he was appointed Bishop of Buffalo, and was installed as Bishop on April 14, 1937. He died on September 27, 1944 and is buried in Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, New Jersey. His motto was "Wisdom from Above."
Bishop John A. Duffy Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Daniel Joseph CurleyBishop Daniel Joseph Curley was born on June 16, 1869 in New York City, the son of Michael Curley and Margaret Swan Curley. He was ordained a priest in Rome, Italy on May 19, 1894. His assignments included: Assistant at Church of the Holy Name, Manhattan; Archdiocese Secretary; and Pastor of Our Lady of Solace, Bronx. He was elected as the third Bishop of Syracuse on February 19, 1923, and was consecrated Bishop on May 1, 1923 in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. On May 15, 1923 he was formally installed as Bishop in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. While Bishop, he established the Society for the Propagation of Faith, established 28 parishes, had 10 schools and 8 new high schools built, and erected the Loretto Restorative Care Unit in Syracuse and Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. At his invitation, the Dominican Sisters of Perpetual Rosary opened the first home for Cloistered Nuns in Syracuse. He also made music a part of the daily curriculum in diocesan schools. He died on August 3, 1932 and his body is buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.
His motto was "Hail, Our Hope!"
Bishop Daniel J. Curley Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. John Grimes Bishop John Grimes was born on December 18, 1852 in Doughanmore, County Limerick, Ireland, the son of John Grimes and Bridget Hammon Grimes. He was ordained a priest on February 19, 1882 in Albany, New York. His assignments included: Assistant to Rev. Dr. James A. O'Hara; Pastorate at Whitesboro; and was appointed the third Pastor of St. Mary's upon the death of Rev. Dr. James A. O'Hara in 1890. On May 16, 1909, he was consecrated Bishop of Imeria and Co-adjutor Bishop of Syracuse to Bishop Ludden in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. On August 6, 1912, he succeeded Bishop Ludden and became the second Bishop of Syracuse. He retired on July 22, 1922. He died on July 26, 1922 and is buried in the crypt at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.
His motto was "Be A Mother to us."
Bishop John Grimes Coat of Arms.pdf
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Most Rev. Patrick Anthony LuddenBishop Patrick Anthony Ludden, first bishop of Syracuse, was born on February 4, 1836 in County Mayo, Ireland, son of Anthony Ludden and Ellen Fitzgerald Ludden. He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1864 for the Diocese of Albany. His assignments included: St. Joseph's Church, Malone, New York; Chancellor for the Diocese of Albany; theologian and companion to Bishop Conroy at the 20th Ecumenical Council of the Vatican; Vicar General of the Diocsese of Albany; Rector of the Albany Cathedral; and Pastor of St. Peter's Church, Troy, New York. He was appointed the Bishop of Syracuse on December 14, 1886, and was consecrated Bishop on May 1, 1887 at Assumption Church. He chose St. John the Evangelist as his Cathedral. In 1903, he left St. John the Evangelist and took St. Mary's as the Cathedral of the Diocese. He died on August 6, 1912 and is buried in the crypt under the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. His motto was "Justice and Peace."
Bishop Patrick A. Ludden Coat of Arms.pdf
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