John Michael McNamara

John Michael McNamara (August 12, 1878 – November 26, 1960) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland from 1927 to 1947 and of the Archdiocese of Washington in the District of Columbia from 1947 until his death in 1960.

John Michael McNamara
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Bishop McNamara High School
In office	1947-1960
Other post(s)	Titular Bishop of Eumenia (1927-1960) Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore (1927-1947)
Orders
Ordination	June 21, 1902 by Cardinal James Gibbons
Consecration	March 29, 1928 by Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley
Personal details
Born	(1878-08-12)August 12, 1878 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	November 26, 1960(1960-11-26) (aged 82) Washington, D.C. US
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Michael and Margaret (née McNeally) McNamara
Education	Loyola College
Alma mater	St. Mary's Seminary

Biography

Early life

John McNamara was born on August 12, 1878, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Michael and Margaret (née McNeally) McNamara.^[1] He studied at Loyola College and at St. Mary's Seminary, both in Baltimore.^[1]

Priesthood

McNamara was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Cardinal James Gibbons on June 21, 1902.^[2] He then did pastoral work in the archdiocese and in the Diocese of Wilmington. McNamara was the founding pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Washington, D.C. in 1919.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore

On December 16, 1927, McNamara was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and titular bishop of Eumenia by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on March 29, 1928 from Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley, with Bishops William Joseph Hafey and Thomas Joseph Toolen serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Baltimore.^[2]

McNamara served as vicar general of the archdiocese, and was named an assistant at the pontifical throne by the Vatican on March 30, 1947.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

On November 15, 1947, McNamara was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the newly erected Archdiocese of Washington.^[2] He assumed the role of vicar general in Washington as well.^[1]

Throughout his ecclesiastical career, he actively supported the canonization of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, and ordained nearly 2,000 men to the priesthood.^[1]

Death and legacy

McNamara continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his death in Washington on November 26, 1960 at age 82.^[2]Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, bears his name.^[3]

See also