Background
Michael Tierney was born in Ballylooby, County Tipperary, to John and Judith (née Fitzgerald) Tierney.
Michael Tierney was born in Ballylooby, County Tipperary, to John and Judith (née Fitzgerald) Tierney.
He studied at Saint Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, Kentucky, and at Saint Joseph"s Seminary in Troy, New New York
He served as Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut from 1894 until his death in 1908. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1866. Returning to Connecticut, Tierney was then named chancellor of the Diocese of Hartford and rector of the cathedral.
He was then served as pastor of Saint Mary of the Star Church in New London until 1872, when he was transferred to Saint John"s Church in Stamford.
He became rector of Saint Peter"s Church at Hartford in 1877, and later pastor of Saint Mary"s Church at New Britain in 1883. On December 2, 1893, Tierney was appointed the sixth Bishop of Hartford by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on February 22, 1894 from Archbishop John Joseph Williams, with Bishops Matthew Harkins and Thomas Daniel Beaven serving as co-consecrators, at Hartford.
He also established a diocesan missionary band to preach retreats to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. At the time of his arrival in Hartford, there were 98 parishes, 204 priests, and 48 parochial schools.
By the time of his death, there were 166 parishes, 300 priests, and 76 parochial schools.
Tierney later died at Hartford, aged 69.