John McGill was born in 4th November 1809 in Philadelphia to James McGill and his wife Lavinia née Dougherty, who immigrated from County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland, and he was raised in Bardstown, Kentucky. At age eleven he entered Saint Joseph's College in Bardstown where he studied the classics and graduated in 1828 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He practiced law in New Orleans for six months before returning to Kentucky. He later abandoned his legal career to embrace the ecclesiastical state entering Saint Thomas' Seminary in Bardstown
John McGill was ordained to the priesthood in 13th June 1835 by Bishop John David, P.S.S. and afterwards he served as parochial vicar at Saint Peter's Church in Lexington and at Assumption Cathedral in Louisville. In 1839 he became editor of the “Catholic Advocate” which he used to defend Catholicism. He also served as pastor of Saint Louis' Church in Louisville.
Father McGill was consecrated third Bishop of Richmond on 10th November 1850 in Bardstown by Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick of Saint Louis, assisted by Bishop Richrd Pius Miles, O.P. of Nashville and Bishop James Mary Maurice Landes D’Aussac de Saint-Palias of Vincennes. Bishop McGill arrived in Richmond, Virginia in late November or early December 1850. In May 1855 he attended the Eighth Provincial Council in Baltimore. During the 1850s he was an apologist against the Know-Nothings. On 15th October 1856 Bishop McGill convoked the first diocesan synod in Richmond to bring the legislation of the diocese into conformity with that of the various councils of Baltimore.
After Virginia seceded from the Union on 30th April 1861, Saint Peter’s Cathedral became host to Catholic troops from Confederate States with larger Catholic populations. Bishop McGill ordered the customary prayer for the United States be changed to one for the Confederate States of America. At the outbreak of the War Between the States Bishop McGill blessed the pikes of the Montgomery Guard in the basement of the cathedral. As Christmas 1862 approached Bishop McGill asked “that on that day, the anniversary of the birth of Our Redeemer, when ‘Glory to God on high and peace to men of good will’, was announced, we should all pray, and offer up the Holy Communion to propitiate Almighty God, and ask for peace, and an end of bloody battles.” During the War he published two books "The True Church Indicated to the Inquirer" and “Our Faith, the Victory”.
After the War Bishop McGill had the mission of guiding the diocese through the Military Occupation (euphemistically called Reconstruction by the Yankees). In his report to the Propaganda of the Faith he noted that the whole South was being devastated “because the radical members of the Congress, being politicians who look chiefly to their selfish interests, are seemingly throwing every obstacle they can in the way of a restoration of the Southern States, that may retain and profit by their present power. The blacks throughout the South, having obtained their freedom though but little qualified to appreciate or use it properly are in an unsettled condition, disturbed by the efforts of pretended friends, who, having no regard for their real welfare, desire to use them as means to accomplish their purpose which appears to be the subjection and thraldom of the Southern States. This measure, and other causes, are evidently producing bitterness between the two races here, and it is fearful to think in what terrible events it may result, as already in a few instances there have been collisions with bloodshed.” He also told the Propaganda of the Faith “The emancipation of the blacks, now left the Church free to exert all the influence She can to give them the knowledge of the true religion.”
Bishop McGill made his ad limina visit to Blessed Pope Pius IX in June 1867. In December 1869 to he attended the Fist Vatican Council, but had to leave in May 1870 because of haemorrhaging of the eyes. On 14th January 1872 he departed this life. His Requiem Mass took place on 16th January and he was placed in a crypt in Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
When Bishop John McGill arrived in the Richmond diocese in 1850 there were eight priests, ten churches and 7,000 Catholics. At the time of his death the diocese had seventeen priests, fifteen churches and fifteen mission chapels and stations, eight parochial schools for boys, and five academies for girls, with a Catholic population estimated to be 17,000.
On 9th November 1960 his body was solemnly transferred to the crypt in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (which had replaced Saint Peter’s as the cathedral in November 1906). The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy lovingly accompanied his body to its new resting place, and Bishop John J. Russell offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preached on Bishop McGill’s loyalty to the Confederacy.
John McGill was ordained to the priesthood in 13th June 1835 by Bishop John David, P.S.S. and afterwards he served as parochial vicar at Saint Peter's Church in Lexington and at Assumption Cathedral in Louisville. In 1839 he became editor of the “Catholic Advocate” which he used to defend Catholicism. He also served as pastor of Saint Louis' Church in Louisville.
Father McGill was consecrated third Bishop of Richmond on 10th November 1850 in Bardstown by Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick of Saint Louis, assisted by Bishop Richrd Pius Miles, O.P. of Nashville and Bishop James Mary Maurice Landes D’Aussac de Saint-Palias of Vincennes. Bishop McGill arrived in Richmond, Virginia in late November or early December 1850. In May 1855 he attended the Eighth Provincial Council in Baltimore. During the 1850s he was an apologist against the Know-Nothings. On 15th October 1856 Bishop McGill convoked the first diocesan synod in Richmond to bring the legislation of the diocese into conformity with that of the various councils of Baltimore.
After Virginia seceded from the Union on 30th April 1861, Saint Peter’s Cathedral became host to Catholic troops from Confederate States with larger Catholic populations. Bishop McGill ordered the customary prayer for the United States be changed to one for the Confederate States of America. At the outbreak of the War Between the States Bishop McGill blessed the pikes of the Montgomery Guard in the basement of the cathedral. As Christmas 1862 approached Bishop McGill asked “that on that day, the anniversary of the birth of Our Redeemer, when ‘Glory to God on high and peace to men of good will’, was announced, we should all pray, and offer up the Holy Communion to propitiate Almighty God, and ask for peace, and an end of bloody battles.” During the War he published two books "The True Church Indicated to the Inquirer" and “Our Faith, the Victory”.
After the War Bishop McGill had the mission of guiding the diocese through the Military Occupation (euphemistically called Reconstruction by the Yankees). In his report to the Propaganda of the Faith he noted that the whole South was being devastated “because the radical members of the Congress, being politicians who look chiefly to their selfish interests, are seemingly throwing every obstacle they can in the way of a restoration of the Southern States, that may retain and profit by their present power. The blacks throughout the South, having obtained their freedom though but little qualified to appreciate or use it properly are in an unsettled condition, disturbed by the efforts of pretended friends, who, having no regard for their real welfare, desire to use them as means to accomplish their purpose which appears to be the subjection and thraldom of the Southern States. This measure, and other causes, are evidently producing bitterness between the two races here, and it is fearful to think in what terrible events it may result, as already in a few instances there have been collisions with bloodshed.” He also told the Propaganda of the Faith “The emancipation of the blacks, now left the Church free to exert all the influence She can to give them the knowledge of the true religion.”
Bishop McGill made his ad limina visit to Blessed Pope Pius IX in June 1867. In December 1869 to he attended the Fist Vatican Council, but had to leave in May 1870 because of haemorrhaging of the eyes. On 14th January 1872 he departed this life. His Requiem Mass took place on 16th January and he was placed in a crypt in Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
When Bishop John McGill arrived in the Richmond diocese in 1850 there were eight priests, ten churches and 7,000 Catholics. At the time of his death the diocese had seventeen priests, fifteen churches and fifteen mission chapels and stations, eight parochial schools for boys, and five academies for girls, with a Catholic population estimated to be 17,000.
On 9th November 1960 his body was solemnly transferred to the crypt in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (which had replaced Saint Peter’s as the cathedral in November 1906). The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy lovingly accompanied his body to its new resting place, and Bishop John J. Russell offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preached on Bishop McGill’s loyalty to the Confederacy.
John McGill was born in 4th November 1809 in Philadelphia to James McGill and his wife Lavinia née Dougherty, who immigrated from County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland, and he was raised in Bardstown, Kentucky. At age eleven he entered Saint Joseph's College in Bardstown where he studied the classics and graduated in 1828 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He practiced law in New Orleans for six months before returning to Kentucky. He later abandoned his legal career to embrace the ecclesiastical state entering Saint Thomas' Seminary in Bardstown
John McGill was ordained to the priesthood in 13th June 1835 by Bishop John David, P.S.S. and afterwards he served as parochial vicar at Saint Peter's Church in Lexington and at Assumption Cathedral in Louisville. In 1839 he became editor of the “Catholic Advocate” which he used to defend Catholicism. He also served as pastor of Saint Louis' Church in Louisville.
Father McGill was consecrated third Bishop of Richmond on 10th November 1850 in Bardstown by Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick of Saint Louis, assisted by Bishop Richrd Pius Miles, O.P. of Nashville and Bishop James Mary Maurice Landes D’Aussac de Saint-Palias of Vincennes. Bishop McGill arrived in Richmond, Virginia in late November or early December 1850. In May 1855 he attended the Eighth Provincial Council in Baltimore. During the 1850s he was an apologist against the Know-Nothings. On 15th October 1856 Bishop McGill convoked the first diocesan synod in Richmond to bring the legislation of the diocese into conformity with that of the various councils of Baltimore.
After Virginia seceded from the Union on 30th April 1861, Saint Peter’s Cathedral became host to Catholic troops from Confederate States with larger Catholic populations. Bishop McGill ordered the customary prayer for the United States be changed to one for the Confederate States of America. At the outbreak of the War Between the States Bishop McGill blessed the pikes of the Montgomery Guard in the basement of the cathedral. As Christmas 1862 approached Bishop McGill asked “that on that day, the anniversary of the birth of Our Redeemer, when ‘Glory to God on high and peace to men of good will’, was announced, we should all pray, and offer up the Holy Communion to propitiate Almighty God, and ask for peace, and an end of bloody battles.” During the War he published two books "The True Church Indicated to the Inquirer" and “Our Faith, the Victory”.
After the War Bishop McGill had the mission of guiding the diocese through the Military Occupation (euphemistically called Reconstruction by the Yankees). In his report to the Propaganda of the Faith he noted that the whole South was being devastated “because the radical members of the Congress, being politicians who look chiefly to their selfish interests, are seemingly throwing every obstacle they can in the way of a restoration of the Southern States, that may retain and profit by their present power. The blacks throughout the South, having obtained their freedom though but little qualified to appreciate or use it properly are in an unsettled condition, disturbed by the efforts of pretended friends, who, having no regard for their real welfare, desire to use them as means to accomplish their purpose which appears to be the subjection and thraldom of the Southern States. This measure, and other causes, are evidently producing bitterness between the two races here, and it is fearful to think in what terrible events it may result, as already in a few instances there have been collisions with bloodshed.” He also told the Propaganda of the Faith “The emancipation of the blacks, now left the Church free to exert all the influence She can to give them the knowledge of the true religion.”
Bishop McGill made his ad limina visit to Blessed Pope Pius IX in June 1867. In December 1869 to he attended the Fist Vatican Council, but had to leave in May 1870 because of haemorrhaging of the eyes. On 14th January 1872 he departed this life. His Requiem Mass took place on 16th January and he was placed in a crypt in Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
When Bishop John McGill arrived in the Richmond diocese in 1850 there were eight priests, ten churches and 7,000 Catholics. At the time of his death the diocese had seventeen priests, fifteen churches and fifteen mission chapels and stations, eight parochial schools for boys, and five academies for girls, with a Catholic population estimated to be 17,000.
On 9th November 1960 his body was solemnly transferred to the crypt in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (which had replaced Saint Peter’s as the cathedral in November 1906). The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy lovingly accompanied his body to its new resting place, and Bishop John J. Russell offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preached on Bishop McGill’s loyalty to the Confederacy.
John McGill was ordained to the priesthood in 13th June 1835 by Bishop John David, P.S.S. and afterwards he served as parochial vicar at Saint Peter's Church in Lexington and at Assumption Cathedral in Louisville. In 1839 he became editor of the “Catholic Advocate” which he used to defend Catholicism. He also served as pastor of Saint Louis' Church in Louisville.
Father McGill was consecrated third Bishop of Richmond on 10th November 1850 in Bardstown by Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick of Saint Louis, assisted by Bishop Richrd Pius Miles, O.P. of Nashville and Bishop James Mary Maurice Landes D’Aussac de Saint-Palias of Vincennes. Bishop McGill arrived in Richmond, Virginia in late November or early December 1850. In May 1855 he attended the Eighth Provincial Council in Baltimore. During the 1850s he was an apologist against the Know-Nothings. On 15th October 1856 Bishop McGill convoked the first diocesan synod in Richmond to bring the legislation of the diocese into conformity with that of the various councils of Baltimore.
After Virginia seceded from the Union on 30th April 1861, Saint Peter’s Cathedral became host to Catholic troops from Confederate States with larger Catholic populations. Bishop McGill ordered the customary prayer for the United States be changed to one for the Confederate States of America. At the outbreak of the War Between the States Bishop McGill blessed the pikes of the Montgomery Guard in the basement of the cathedral. As Christmas 1862 approached Bishop McGill asked “that on that day, the anniversary of the birth of Our Redeemer, when ‘Glory to God on high and peace to men of good will’, was announced, we should all pray, and offer up the Holy Communion to propitiate Almighty God, and ask for peace, and an end of bloody battles.” During the War he published two books "The True Church Indicated to the Inquirer" and “Our Faith, the Victory”.
After the War Bishop McGill had the mission of guiding the diocese through the Military Occupation (euphemistically called Reconstruction by the Yankees). In his report to the Propaganda of the Faith he noted that the whole South was being devastated “because the radical members of the Congress, being politicians who look chiefly to their selfish interests, are seemingly throwing every obstacle they can in the way of a restoration of the Southern States, that may retain and profit by their present power. The blacks throughout the South, having obtained their freedom though but little qualified to appreciate or use it properly are in an unsettled condition, disturbed by the efforts of pretended friends, who, having no regard for their real welfare, desire to use them as means to accomplish their purpose which appears to be the subjection and thraldom of the Southern States. This measure, and other causes, are evidently producing bitterness between the two races here, and it is fearful to think in what terrible events it may result, as already in a few instances there have been collisions with bloodshed.” He also told the Propaganda of the Faith “The emancipation of the blacks, now left the Church free to exert all the influence She can to give them the knowledge of the true religion.”
Bishop McGill made his ad limina visit to Blessed Pope Pius IX in June 1867. In December 1869 to he attended the Fist Vatican Council, but had to leave in May 1870 because of haemorrhaging of the eyes. On 14th January 1872 he departed this life. His Requiem Mass took place on 16th January and he was placed in a crypt in Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
When Bishop John McGill arrived in the Richmond diocese in 1850 there were eight priests, ten churches and 7,000 Catholics. At the time of his death the diocese had seventeen priests, fifteen churches and fifteen mission chapels and stations, eight parochial schools for boys, and five academies for girls, with a Catholic population estimated to be 17,000.
On 9th November 1960 his body was solemnly transferred to the crypt in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (which had replaced Saint Peter’s as the cathedral in November 1906). The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy lovingly accompanied his body to its new resting place, and Bishop John J. Russell offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preached on Bishop McGill’s loyalty to the Confederacy.
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