James A. McFadden

His Excellency, The Most Reverend James Augustine McFadden
Bishop of Youngstown
See	Diocese of Youngstown
In office	September 8, 1932
Successor	Emmet M. Walsh
Other post(s)	Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland
Orders
Ordination	June 17, 1905 by Ignatius Frederick Horstmann
Consecration	September 8, 1932 by Joseph Schrembs
Personal details
Born	(1880-12-04)December 4, 1880 Cleveland, Ohio, US
Died	November 16, 1952(1952-11-16) (aged 71) Youngstown, Ohio, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Education	John Carroll University St. Mary's Seminary

James Augustine McFadden (December 24, 1880 – November 16, 1952) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown in Ohio (1943–1952). He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio (1932-1943).

Biography

Early life

James McFadden was born on December 4, 1880, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Edward and Mary (née Cavanagh) McFadden.^[1] He went to Cathedral and Holy Name grade schools, then attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. After his graduation, McFadden entered John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. After finishing college, he started his preparation for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio.^[1][2][3]

Priesthood

McFadden was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ignatius Horstmann on June 17, 1905.^[4] After his ordination, McFadden served as a curate at St. Agnes Parish in Cleveland. In 1914, he founded and became the first pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Elyria, Ohio.^[1] From 1917 to 1923, McFadden served as rector of St. Mary's Seminary.^[1] He also served as diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith (1923-1927) and as chancellor of the diocese (1925-1943). He was named a domestic prelate in 1927.^[1][2][3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland

On May 12, 1932, McFadden was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland and titular bishop of Bida by Pope Pius XI.^[4] He received his episcopal consecration on September 8, 1932, from Bishop Joseph Schrembs, with Bishops Michael Gallagher and Thomas O'Reilly serving as co-consecrators.^[4][5] On May 14, 1933, McFadden attended an interfaith rally in Cleveland to protest the persecution of Jews in Germany under the Nazi regime.^[6]

Bishop of Youngstown

McFadden was named the first bishop of the new Diocese of Youngstown by Pope Pius XII on June 2, 1943.^[4][2] McFadden designated St. Columba Church as the new cathedral of the diocese. The diocese then contained 110 churches, three hospitals run by religious orders, 54 parochial elementary schools, one parochial junior high school, and three Catholic high schools. In 1949, McFadden requested the appointment of a coadjutor bishop to assist him in his work; the pope appointed Emmet Walsh for the position.^[3]

James McFadden died in Youngstown on November 16, 1951, at age 71.^[4]

References

1. Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
2. "POPE NAMES BISHOP OF YOUNGSTOWN AREA; New Diocese Is Created Under the Most Rev. J.A. McFadden". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
3. "MCFADDEN, JAMES A." Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
4. "Bishop James Augustine McFadden". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
5. "McFadden Is Consecrated". The New York Times. 1932-09-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
6. "CLEVELAND MEETING TODAY; Rabbi Wise to Be a Speaker in Protest Against German Regime". The New York Times. 1933-05-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-26.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by none	Bishop of Youngstown 1943—1952	Succeeded by Emmet M. Walsh