Background
Treacy was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the only child of John and Ann (née O"Kane) Treacy.
Treacy was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the only child of John and Ann (née O"Kane) Treacy.
He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, and studied at Harvard Law School before enrolling at the Catholic University of America in Washington, District of Columbia Following his graduation from the Catholic University in 1912, he returned to Massachusetts and studied at Saint John"s Seminary in Brighton.
Early life and education
Priesthood and ministry
He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, on December 8, 1918. After 12 years in parish work, Treacy became diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1931. He was elevated to a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XI in 1934.
In 1939, he was named by President Franklin Doctorate. Roosevelt to a 25-member committee for a good-neighbor mission to Latin America.
Bishop of Louisiana Crosse, Wisconsin
On August 22, 1945, Treacy was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana Crosse, Wisconsin, and titular bishop of Metelis by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 2 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edward Francis Hoban and William David O"Brien serving as co-consecrators. Upon the death of Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick, Treacy succeeded him as the fifth Bishop of Louisiana Crosse on August 25, 1948.
During his 16-year tenure, he founded Holy Cross Seminary, oversaw the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, and established 47 churches, 43 convents, and 42 schools. He also ordered the closing of the Necedah Shrine of Mistress
Mary Van Hoof in 1950.
He attended the first two sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1963. Treacy died at Saint Francis Hospital in Louisiana Crosse.