Former Auxiliary of the Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop of the Titular See of Motula, Monsignor Bernard Joseph McLaughlin was born in North Tonawanda on November 19, 1912 to Michael Henry McLaughlin, a dispatcher for the New York Central Railroad, and Mary Agnes Curran. With the family moving to Visitation Parish in Buffalo where attended the parish school, in 1925 he entered the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary and was a member of the first graduation class. Five years later he matriculated at the Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome.
Ordained priest at St. John's Lateran Basilica in Rome on December 21, 1935, McLaughlin continued his studies in Rome for another six months before returning to Buffalo. On August 14, 1936, he was named assistant at St. Joseph New Cathedral where he remained until June 1942, when he was appointed secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, the start of forty six years of service in diocesan administration. On May 31, 1946, he was appointed assistant chancellor and soon after became vice-chancellor. He became chancellor of the diocese on December 16, 1953.
In November 1950, he was selected to establish the new parish of Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Buffalo's West Side. While still continuing his duties at the chancery, he was transferred from Coronation to the pastorate of Blessed Sacrament parish, Kenmore, in June 1961. In 1972, he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Kenmore.
Named Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on April 6, 1950, three years later he was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate, while on December 4, 1967, Pope Paul VI made him a Protonotary Apostolic. In addition to his work as Chancellor, Msgr. McLaughlin was been a member of the board of diocesan consultors and vicar general. He also served as an advocate of the diocesan tribunal; professor of labor ethics at the Diocesan Labor Management College and founder of several parish labor schools; chaplain of the Catholic Guild for the Blind and secretary of the Diocesan Synod. On September 14, 1968, he was made a knight of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City by Archbishop Terence Cooke.
On January 6, 1969, accompanied by Buffalo's Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Pius A. Benincasa, McLaughlin received his episcopal consecration as Auxiliary for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, with the Titular See of Motula, from Pope Paul VI.
Retiring from office on January 15, 1988, in retirement, Bishop McLaughlin lived in a home within Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, cared for by his niece. He presided at countless confirmations throughout the eight counties of Western New York, confirming thousands of young Catholics. Despite failing eyesight, he continued to celebrate daily Mass at St. Timothy church in Tonawanda well into his 90's. By the time of his death at the venerable age of 102, he was the second oldest bishop in the United States and in the world, following Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety of Newark and the death of Bishop Géry Leuliet of Amiens, France, four days previously.
Ordained priest at St. John's Lateran Basilica in Rome on December 21, 1935, McLaughlin continued his studies in Rome for another six months before returning to Buffalo. On August 14, 1936, he was named assistant at St. Joseph New Cathedral where he remained until June 1942, when he was appointed secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, the start of forty six years of service in diocesan administration. On May 31, 1946, he was appointed assistant chancellor and soon after became vice-chancellor. He became chancellor of the diocese on December 16, 1953.
In November 1950, he was selected to establish the new parish of Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Buffalo's West Side. While still continuing his duties at the chancery, he was transferred from Coronation to the pastorate of Blessed Sacrament parish, Kenmore, in June 1961. In 1972, he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Kenmore.
Named Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on April 6, 1950, three years later he was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate, while on December 4, 1967, Pope Paul VI made him a Protonotary Apostolic. In addition to his work as Chancellor, Msgr. McLaughlin was been a member of the board of diocesan consultors and vicar general. He also served as an advocate of the diocesan tribunal; professor of labor ethics at the Diocesan Labor Management College and founder of several parish labor schools; chaplain of the Catholic Guild for the Blind and secretary of the Diocesan Synod. On September 14, 1968, he was made a knight of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City by Archbishop Terence Cooke.
On January 6, 1969, accompanied by Buffalo's Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Pius A. Benincasa, McLaughlin received his episcopal consecration as Auxiliary for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, with the Titular See of Motula, from Pope Paul VI.
Retiring from office on January 15, 1988, in retirement, Bishop McLaughlin lived in a home within Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, cared for by his niece. He presided at countless confirmations throughout the eight counties of Western New York, confirming thousands of young Catholics. Despite failing eyesight, he continued to celebrate daily Mass at St. Timothy church in Tonawanda well into his 90's. By the time of his death at the venerable age of 102, he was the second oldest bishop in the United States and in the world, following Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety of Newark and the death of Bishop Géry Leuliet of Amiens, France, four days previously.
Former Auxiliary of the Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop of the Titular See of Motula, Monsignor Bernard Joseph McLaughlin was born in North Tonawanda on November 19, 1912 to Michael Henry McLaughlin, a dispatcher for the New York Central Railroad, and Mary Agnes Curran. With the family moving to Visitation Parish in Buffalo where attended the parish school, in 1925 he entered the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary and was a member of the first graduation class. Five years later he matriculated at the Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome.
Ordained priest at St. John's Lateran Basilica in Rome on December 21, 1935, McLaughlin continued his studies in Rome for another six months before returning to Buffalo. On August 14, 1936, he was named assistant at St. Joseph New Cathedral where he remained until June 1942, when he was appointed secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, the start of forty six years of service in diocesan administration. On May 31, 1946, he was appointed assistant chancellor and soon after became vice-chancellor. He became chancellor of the diocese on December 16, 1953.
In November 1950, he was selected to establish the new parish of Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Buffalo's West Side. While still continuing his duties at the chancery, he was transferred from Coronation to the pastorate of Blessed Sacrament parish, Kenmore, in June 1961. In 1972, he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Kenmore.
Named Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on April 6, 1950, three years later he was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate, while on December 4, 1967, Pope Paul VI made him a Protonotary Apostolic. In addition to his work as Chancellor, Msgr. McLaughlin was been a member of the board of diocesan consultors and vicar general. He also served as an advocate of the diocesan tribunal; professor of labor ethics at the Diocesan Labor Management College and founder of several parish labor schools; chaplain of the Catholic Guild for the Blind and secretary of the Diocesan Synod. On September 14, 1968, he was made a knight of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City by Archbishop Terence Cooke.
On January 6, 1969, accompanied by Buffalo's Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Pius A. Benincasa, McLaughlin received his episcopal consecration as Auxiliary for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, with the Titular See of Motula, from Pope Paul VI.
Retiring from office on January 15, 1988, in retirement, Bishop McLaughlin lived in a home within Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, cared for by his niece. He presided at countless confirmations throughout the eight counties of Western New York, confirming thousands of young Catholics. Despite failing eyesight, he continued to celebrate daily Mass at St. Timothy church in Tonawanda well into his 90's. By the time of his death at the venerable age of 102, he was the second oldest bishop in the United States and in the world, following Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety of Newark and the death of Bishop Géry Leuliet of Amiens, France, four days previously.
Ordained priest at St. John's Lateran Basilica in Rome on December 21, 1935, McLaughlin continued his studies in Rome for another six months before returning to Buffalo. On August 14, 1936, he was named assistant at St. Joseph New Cathedral where he remained until June 1942, when he was appointed secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, the start of forty six years of service in diocesan administration. On May 31, 1946, he was appointed assistant chancellor and soon after became vice-chancellor. He became chancellor of the diocese on December 16, 1953.
In November 1950, he was selected to establish the new parish of Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Buffalo's West Side. While still continuing his duties at the chancery, he was transferred from Coronation to the pastorate of Blessed Sacrament parish, Kenmore, in June 1961. In 1972, he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Kenmore.
Named Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on April 6, 1950, three years later he was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate, while on December 4, 1967, Pope Paul VI made him a Protonotary Apostolic. In addition to his work as Chancellor, Msgr. McLaughlin was been a member of the board of diocesan consultors and vicar general. He also served as an advocate of the diocesan tribunal; professor of labor ethics at the Diocesan Labor Management College and founder of several parish labor schools; chaplain of the Catholic Guild for the Blind and secretary of the Diocesan Synod. On September 14, 1968, he was made a knight of the Holy Sepulchre at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City by Archbishop Terence Cooke.
On January 6, 1969, accompanied by Buffalo's Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Pius A. Benincasa, McLaughlin received his episcopal consecration as Auxiliary for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, with the Titular See of Motula, from Pope Paul VI.
Retiring from office on January 15, 1988, in retirement, Bishop McLaughlin lived in a home within Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, cared for by his niece. He presided at countless confirmations throughout the eight counties of Western New York, confirming thousands of young Catholics. Despite failing eyesight, he continued to celebrate daily Mass at St. Timothy church in Tonawanda well into his 90's. By the time of his death at the venerable age of 102, he was the second oldest bishop in the United States and in the world, following Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety of Newark and the death of Bishop Géry Leuliet of Amiens, France, four days previously.
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