Patrick Ahern

Patrick Vincent Ahern (March 8, 1919 – March 19, 2011) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1970 to 1994.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Patrick Vincent Ahern
Auxiliary Bishop of New York Titular Bishop of Naiera
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Archdiocese of New York
In office	1970 to 1994
Other post(s)	Titular Bishop of Naiera
Orders
Ordination	January 27, 1945 by Francis Spellman
Consecration	March 19, 1970 by Terence Cooke, John Joseph Maguire and Edwin Broderick
Personal details
Born	March 8, 1919 New York City, US
Died	March 19, 2011
Education	Manhattan College Cathedral College St. Louis University University of Notre Dame

Styles of Patrick Ahern
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Monsignor

Biography

Early life

Patrick Ahern was born on March 8, 1919, in Manhattan. He first attended Blessed Sacrament School and St. Agnes Boys High School, both in Manhattan. He then went to Manhattan College in the Bronx and Cathedral College in Queens^[1][2] He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.

Ahern later attended St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.^[1]

Priesthood

St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, New York (1943)

Ahern was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Francis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on January 27, 1945.^[3] After his 1945 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Ahern as a curate at St. Helena's Parish in the Bronx.^[4] He then worked with the Archdiocesan Mission Band until 1955, when he was named a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral.^[5]

Ahern taught at St. Joseph's Seminary before Spellman named him as his priest seary in 1958.^[1] In 1967, Ahern was named as pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in the Bronx.^[5]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York

On February 3, 1970, Ahern was named an auxiliary bishop for New York and titular bishop of Naiera by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on March 19, 1970, from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Archbishop John Maguire and Bishop Edwin Broderick serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.^[3][6]

In 1972, Ahern and another cleric walked out of a Catholic Interracial Council dinner in New York City. They did not want to be present during a speech by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who had just vetoed a New York Legislature bill on abortion rights for women.^[7]

As an auxiliary bishop, Ahern continued to serve at Our Lady of Angels Church and was named episcopal vicar for the Bronx.^[8] He served as episcopal vicar for Staten Island and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Staten Island from 1980 to 1990.^[1][9] While at Blessed Sacrament, he established the Seton Foundation, which created schools and programs for children with special needs. He then became archdiocesan vicar for development.^[5][2]

Death and legacy

After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Ahern resigned as an auxiliary bishop on April 26, 1994. He died on March 19, 2011^[3] He was widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the spirituality of the French sister, Thérèse de Lisieux.^[2]

The Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School in Staten Island is named after Patrick Ahern.^[10]

Published works

• Maurice and Therese: The Story of Love, Doubleday, 2001. ISBN 978-0-385-49740-4

Awards

• 2007: Eleanor and Paul Proske Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to the Poor^[11]