Regis Canevin
Encyclopedia
John Francis Regis Canevin (June 5, 1853—March 22, 1927) was an American
prelate
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh
from 1904 to 1921.
) in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, to Thomas and Rosanna Canevin. After receiving his early education at schools in his native city, he entered St. Vincent College
in 1871 and later St. Vincent Seminary
in 1875. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 4, 1879.
Canevin's first assignment was as a curate
at St. Mary's Church in the Lawrenceville
neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1881. He then served in the same capacity at St. Paul's Cathedral
in Pittsburgh for five years. In 1886, he became chaplain
at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum and the Western Penitentiary, as well as pastor
of the mission in Canonsburg
. He served as chancellor
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
from 1888 until 1893, when he became pastor of St. Philip's Church in Crafton
. He was named rector
of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1895.
On January 16, 1903, Canevin was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop
of Sabratha
by Pope Leo XIII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following February 24 from Archbishop Patrick John Ryan
, with Bishops John W. Shanahan
and Leo Michael Haid
serving as co-consecrators
. Upon the death of Bishop Richard Phelan
, Canevin succeeded him to become the fifth Bishop of Pittsburgh
on December 20, 1904. He was the first American and the first native son of the diocese to become bishop.
After 16 years as bishop, Canvein retired due to ill health on January 9, 1921; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Pelusium
by Pope Benedict XV
on the same date. He later died at Mercy Hospital
at age 73, and is buried at St. Mary Cemetery
in Lawrenceville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
from 1904 to 1921.
Biography
Regis Canevin was born at Beatty (now called LatrobeLatrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
) in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to Thomas and Rosanna Canevin. After receiving his early education at schools in his native city, he entered St. Vincent College
Saint Vincent College
Saint Vincent College is a four-year, coeducational, Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer, a monk from Bavaria, Germany. It was the first Benedictine monastery in the...
in 1871 and later St. Vincent Seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary is the fourth oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh....
in 1875. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on June 4, 1879.
Canevin's first assignment was as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Mary's Church in the Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)
Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and...
neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1881. He then served in the same capacity at St. Paul's Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Pittsburgh
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
in Pittsburgh for five years. In 1886, he became chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum and the Western Penitentiary, as well as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the mission in Canonsburg
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
. He served as chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
from 1888 until 1893, when he became pastor of St. Philip's Church in Crafton
Crafton, Pennsylvania
Crafton is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, west of downtown Pittsburgh. The population grew from 1,927 in 1900 to 4,583 in 1910 and to 7,163 in 1940. The population was 5,951 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. He was named rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1895.
On January 16, 1903, Canevin was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sabratha
Sabratha
Sabratha, Sabratah or Siburata , in the Zawiya District in the northwestern corner of modern Libya, was the westernmost of the "three cities" of Tripolis. From 2001 to 2007 it was the capital of the former Sabratha wa Sorman District. It lies on the Mediterranean coast about west of Tripoli...
by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following February 24 from Archbishop Patrick John Ryan
Patrick John Ryan
Patrick John Ryan was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1884 until his death in 1911.-Early life and education:...
, with Bishops John W. Shanahan
John W. Shanahan
John Walter Shanahan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Harrisburg from 1899 until his death in 1916.-Biography:...
and Leo Michael Haid
Leo Michael Haid
Leo Michael Haid, O.S.B. was an Benedictine abbot and Catholic bishop serving as Abbot of the Abbey of Mary Help of Christians, in Belmont, North Carolina from 1885-1924 and as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina from 1888-1910 and Territorial Abbot from 1910-1924.-Biography:Haid was born July 15,...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Upon the death of Bishop Richard Phelan
Richard Phelan
Richard Phelan, D.D. was the fourth Roman Catholic Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.- Background :...
, Canevin succeeded him to become the fifth Bishop of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
on December 20, 1904. He was the first American and the first native son of the diocese to become bishop.
After 16 years as bishop, Canvein retired due to ill health on January 9, 1921; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Pelusium
Pelusium
Pelusium was a city in the eastern extremes of Egypt's Nile Delta, 30 km to the southeast of the modern Port Said. Alternative names include Sena and Per-Amun , Pelousion , Sin , Seyân , and Tell el-Farama...
by Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
on the same date. He later died at Mercy Hospital
UPMC Mercy
UPMC Mercy is a main hospital facility of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is located in the Uptown section of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, adjacent to downtown Pittsburgh and a few blocks from the Mellon Arena...
at age 73, and is buried at St. Mary Cemetery
St. Mary Cemetery, Pittsburgh
St. Mary Cemetery is a Roman Catholic burial ground located at 45th and Penn Avenues in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is adjacent to the city's slightly older and much larger Allegheny Cemetery....
in Lawrenceville.
External links
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh History of Bishops webpage
- Bishop John Francis Regis Canevin at Catholic Hierarchy.org