Background
McGovern was born in Swanlinbar, County Cavan, and came to the United States with his parents in 1833, settling in Albany Township, Pennsylvania.
McGovern was born in Swanlinbar, County Cavan, and came to the United States with his parents in 1833, settling in Albany Township, Pennsylvania.
He completed his theological studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, and was ordained a priest by Bishop James Wood on December 27, 1861.
In 1855 he entered Mount Saint Mary"s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After serving at Pottstown and Douglassville, he was named a curate at Saint Michael"s Church and later Saint Philip"s Church in Philadelphia. He was pastor of Bellefonte from 1864 until 1870, when he was transferred to Saint Patrick"s Church in New York
In 1873, he was appointed to Danville.
From 1881 to 1882, he went to Europe, Africa and Asia to regain his health. On December 6, 1887, McGovern was appointed Bishop of Harrisburg by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on March 11, 1888 from Bishop William O"Hara, with Bishops Richard Gilmour and John Ambrose Watterson serving as co-consecrators.
During his tenure, he erected twelve parishes, mostly designated for the various ethnic groups. He died at age 66.