Michael Fallon (priest)

Michael Francis Fallon (May 17, 1867 – February 22, 1931) was a Canadian Catholic priest and a Canadian football coach. He was the Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario from 1910 to 1931 and the head coach of the Ottawa Gee-Gees teams in the 1890s.

Michael Francis Fallon

Born:	(1867-05-17)May 17, 1867 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Died:	February 22, 1931(1931-02-22) (aged 63)
Career information
Position(s)	Coach
Career history
As coach
1890s	University of Ottawa

Fallon was born on May 17, 1867 in Kingston, Ontario. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Kingston and received degrees from University of Ottawa (B.A.) and the Pontifical Gregorian University (D.D.). He was ordained in 1884 and became an English literature professor at the University of Ottawa and was the University's vice-rector.^[1][2] He also coached the university's football team and led them to the dominion championship in 1894, 1896, and 1897.^[3] In 1898, Fallon was made a priest of St. Joseph's Parish. Three years later, he was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. He then served as provincial of the first American state of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.^[1] Fallon’s evangelization among Protestants in the Western provinces of Canada won the support of Archbishop Donato Sbarretti, the Apostolic Delegate to Canada and Newfoundland, who subsequently looked to Fallon for service and advice.^[2] The Apostolic Delegate recommended him in 1909 for the appointment of the first Bishop of Regina.^[2] From April 25, 1910, until his death on February 22, 1931, he was Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario.^[4] He is buried in the chapel of London's St. Peter's Seminary.^[5]