29 Facts About Francis Kenrick

Francis Patrick Kenrick was an Irish-born Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Philadelphia and Archbishop of Baltimore.

Francis Kenrick then attended the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, where he built a reputation as a theologian and scholar.

Francis Kenrick became Archbishop of Baltimore in 1851, serving there until his death in 1863.

Francis Kenrick is known for his contributions to the American Catholic Church as a theologian and canon law scholar as well as for his introducing free parochial schools in the Diocese of Philadelphia and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Francis Kenrick was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Thomas and Jane Kenrick.

Francis Kenrick decided as a boy that he wanted to enter the priesthood.

Francis Kenrick attended elementary school and a so-called classical school in Dublin, where he achieved a strong academic record.

At age 18, Francis Kenrick was selected to study at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, where he became a distinguished student in theology.

Francis Kenrick was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Archbishop Candido Maria Frattini on April 7,1821.

Once in Bardstown, Francis Kenrick taught theology at St Thomas for the next nine years.

Francis Kenrick taught Greek and history at St Joseph's College in Bardstown.

Francis Kenrick engaged in missionary work in the diocese and held public debates on religion with Protestant ministers.

Francis Kenrick earned a reputation as an eloquent preacher and effective apologist, and was a recognized theologian and scripture scholar.

When Flaget traveled to the First Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1829 in Baltimore, Maryland, Francis Kenrick came along as his personal theologian.

Francis Kenrick served as an assistant secretary at the provincial council.

Francis Kenrick received his episcopal consecration on June 6,1830, from Flaget, with Conwell and Bishop John serving as co-consecrators, in Bardstown.

Francis Kenrick immediately assumed full administrative control of the diocese, which had been in turmoil from a schism at St Mary's Parish in Philadelphia.

Francis Kenrick faced a similar trustee dispute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then part of the Diocese of Philadelphia, over the ownership of St Paul's Church.

In June 1832, Francis Kenrick founded St Charles Borromeo Seminary for the preparation of seminarians, locating it at his personal residence in Philadelphia.

When Francis Kenrick expressed his opposition to the appointment, the Vatican dropped the coadjutor issue, along with that of the new diocese.

On November 10,1842, Francis Kenrick wrote to the Board of Controllers of public schools, asking the Philadelphia school system to allow Catholic children use the Catholic Douay Bible in class instead of a Protestant bible.

Francis Kenrick asked that teachers excuse these children from non-Catholic religious teachings.

Francis Kenrick encouraged his priests to avoid wearing clerical clothing when on the streets.

Francis Kenrick then initiated a parochial school system in Philadelphia to be administered by the archdiocese.

Francis Kenrick's installation took place in Baltimore on October 9,1851.

Francis Kenrick presided over the First Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1852.

In 1854, Pius IX invited Francis Kenrick to attend the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in Rome.

Francis Kenrick died at age 66 in Baltimore on July 8,1863.

Francis Kenrick is interred in the crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.