12 Facts About Richard Scannell

Richard Scannell was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Richard Scannell served as bishop of the Diocese of Concordia in Kansas and as bishop of the Diocese of Omaha in Nebraska.

Richard Scannell was born on 12 May 1845, in Cloyne, County Cork, in Ireland to Patrick and Johanna Scannell.

Richard Scannell arrived in the United States later in 1871 and was appointed as a curate at Holy Rosary Cathedral.

Richard Scannell returned to the cathedral as rector in 1879.

On 9 August 1887, Richard Scannell was appointed as the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Concordia by Pope Leo XIII.

Richard Scannell received his episcopal consecration on 30 November 1887, from Archbishop Feehan, with Bishops William McCloskey and Joseph Rademacher serving as co-consecrators, at St Joseph's Church.

Richard Scannell was named by Leo XIII to succeed Bishop James O'Connor as bishop of the Diocese of Omaha on 30 January 1891.

Richard Scannell oversaw the diocese's expansion to 95 parishes, serving more than 80,000 Catholics.

Richard Scannell erected the Creighton Memorial St Joseph's Hospital in Omaha and St Catherine's Hospital, and a home of the Good Shepherd.

Richard Scannell introduced the Third Order Regular of St Francis, Sisters of St Joseph, Presentation Sisters, Sisters of the Resurrection, Sisters of St Benedict, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Good Shepherd Sisters, the Dominicans, Felicians, Ursulines, and Franciscans to the diocese.

Richard Scannell died on 8 January 1916, in Omaha at age 70.