Denis Mary Bradley
Encyclopedia
Denis Mary Bradley was an American Catholic priest, who became the first Bishop
of Manchester, New Hampshire
. Bradley is credited with co-founding Saint Anselm College
with Abbot Hilary Pfraengle in 1889 as Bradley had persistently requested the Benedictine
monks of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey
to establish a Catholic college
in his diocese of Manchester.
A faculty office building on the campus he helped found is named in his honor as "Bradley House"
to the United States of America, settling in Manchester, New Hampshire
. In 1863, after attending the local schools, he attended the Holy Cross College
, in Worcester, Massachusetts
and graduated in June of 1867. He was then enrolled as an ecclesiastical student at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, New York
, where he was ordained priest 3 June, 1871.
Shortly after this he was located at Portland, Maine
, under Bishop Bacon, and subsequently under Bishop Healy, by whom he was appointed rector of the cathedral and chancellor of the diocese. In June, 1881, he was made pastor of St. Joseph's, Manchester
, which became his cathedral when he was consecrated first Bishop of the new See of Manchester, 11 June 1884. He was the first alumnus of St. Joseph's Seminary of Troy, New York, to be raised to the episcopacy.
In the rural parts of New Hampshire
there were many scattered Catholics, and his first efforts were directed towards providing for them. He held the first synod of the diocese 24 October 1886.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. Bradley is credited with co-founding Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the...
with Abbot Hilary Pfraengle in 1889 as Bradley had persistently requested the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to establish a Catholic college
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the...
in his diocese of Manchester.
A faculty office building on the campus he helped found is named in his honor as "Bradley House"
Life
Shortly after his father's death, when Bradley was eight years old, his mother and the family of five emigrated from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to the United States of America, settling in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. In 1863, after attending the local schools, he attended the Holy Cross College
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
and graduated in June of 1867. He was then enrolled as an ecclesiastical student at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, where he was ordained priest 3 June, 1871.
Shortly after this he was located at Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, under Bishop Bacon, and subsequently under Bishop Healy, by whom he was appointed rector of the cathedral and chancellor of the diocese. In June, 1881, he was made pastor of St. Joseph's, Manchester
Cathedral of St. Joseph, Manchester
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire. It is located on Lowell Street in the downtown district. Bishop Peter Libasci serves as Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester, and Monsignor Anthony Frontiero is the rector of the...
, which became his cathedral when he was consecrated first Bishop of the new See of Manchester, 11 June 1884. He was the first alumnus of St. Joseph's Seminary of Troy, New York, to be raised to the episcopacy.
In the rural parts of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
there were many scattered Catholics, and his first efforts were directed towards providing for them. He held the first synod of the diocese 24 October 1886.