Bishop John Joseph "J.J." McCarthy C.S.Sp. (27 April 1896 – 13 January 1983),[1] was an Irish born, Holy Ghost Father, who served as Bishop to Nairobi, Kenya.[2]


John Joseph McCarthy
Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseNairobi
MetropolisNairobi
SeeNairobi
Appointed25 March 1953
Term ended24 October 1971
SuccessorMaurice Michael Otunga
Other post(s)President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1969–1970)
Orders
Ordination24 June 1925
Personal details
Born
John Joseph McCarthy

28 April 1896
Died13 January 1983(1983-01-13) (aged 86)
Kimmage Manor, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
  • Vicar Apostolic of Zanzibar(1946–1953)
  • Titular Bishop of Cercina (1946–1953)
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Ordination history of
John Joseph McCarthy
History
Diaconal ordination
DatePriest of Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Ordained on 24 June 1925)
Priestly ordination
Date24 June 1925
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorArchbishop David James Mathew
Co-consecratorsBishop Joseph Nikabaale Kiwanuka + Bishop Bernhard Gerhard Hilhorst
Date27 October 1946

Born 28 April 1896 in Doonegan, Milltown Malbay, County Clare, 'J.J' was a student at Rockwell College, before going on to Kimmage Manor to train as a priest. He studied at St. Marys, and University College Dublin (obtaining a BA), and was a prefect in Blackrock College. At Rockwell, he played rugby and also played rugby in Blackrock. He was ordained in 1925, and following ordination, he went on his mission to East Africa.

He was ordained bishop in 1946 with the old title of Vicar Apostolic of Zanzibar (succeeding another Irish Spiritan John William Heffernan) and Titular Bishop of Cercina.[1] In 1953 he was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi, and position he held until his retirement in 1971.

He served as president of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1969 to 1970.[3]

He retired in 1972 and returned to Ireland, where he lived in Kildare for a time before moving to Kimmage Manor, where he died in 1983.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Bishop J.J. McCarthy www.catholichierarchy.org
  2. ^ Bishop John Joseph McCarthy Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine Irish Spiritans Remembered
  3. ^ Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops www.gcatholic.org