James Johnston Navagh Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency. The Most Reverend
James Johnston Navagh
Bishop of Paterson
titular bishop of Ombi
Term:February 12, 1963 –
October 2, 1965
Ordination:December 21, 1929
Ordained By:William Turner
Consecration:September 24, 1953
Consecrated By:Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Birth Date:4 April 1901
Birth Place:Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Rome, Italy
Religion:Roman Catholic
Parents:George and Catherine Navagh
Education:Canisius College
Niagara University
Predecessor:James A. McNulty
Successor:Lawrence B. Casey
See:Diocese of Paterson
Other Post:Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh
(1952-1957)
Bishop of Ogdensburg
(1957–1963)

James Johnston Navagh (April 4, 1901 – October 2, 1965) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina (1952-1957), bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York (1957–1963) and bishop of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey (1963–1965).

Biography

Early life

James Navagh was born on April 4, 1901, in Buffalo, New York to George and Catherine Navagh.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Canisius College in Buffalo and a Master of Arts from Niagara University in Lewiston, New York.

Navagh was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William Turner for the Diocese of Buffalo on December 21, 1929.[2] After his ordination, Navagh served as a curate at Holy Cross Church in Buffalo. In 1937, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Brant, New Youk. Navagh was named the first director of the Missionary Apostolate of the diocese in 1939, and served as pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Fredonia, New York, from 1940 to 1942.

Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh

On July 29, 1952, Navagh was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh and titular bishop of Ombi by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on September 24, 1952, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Raymond Kearney and James H. Griffiths serving as co-consecrators.

Bishop of Ogdensburg

Navagh was named the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg by Piux XII on May 8, 1957. He founded Mater Dei College in Ogdensburg in 1960.[3]

Bishop of Paterson

On February 12, 1963, Pope John XXIII appointed Navagh to succeed James A. McNulty as the fourth bishop of the diocese of Paterson.

James Navagh died on October 2, 1965, from a heart attack in Rome while attending the Second Vatican Council; he was age 64.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Curtis, Georgina Pell. The American Catholic Who's Who. XIV. 1961. Walter Romig. Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
  2. News: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Bishop James Johnston Navagh.
  3. Web site: Brief History of the Diocese. 2022-02-18. North Country Catholic.
  4. News: Many From North Country To Attend Bishop Navagh Funeral Mass In Paterson . 7 June 2021 . North Country Catholic . 1965-10-10.