Background
Whelan was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and moved with his parents to the United States at age 10 or 12, settling in New New York
Whelan was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and moved with his parents to the United States at age 10 or 12, settling in New New York
After studying philosophy and theology at the Dominican convent at Somerset, Ohio, he was ordained a priest by Bishop John Baptist Purcell on August 2, 1846. He then worked as a missionary before serving as president of Saint Joseph"s College in Somerset from 1852 until 1854, when he became provincial superior of Saint Joseph"s Province (which included all the United States except the Pacific Coast). On April 15, 1859, Whelan was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee, and Titular Bishop of Marcopolis by Pope Pius IX. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 8 from Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick, with Bishops John Baptiste Miège, Society of Jesus (Jesuit), and Henry Damian Juncker serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis.
He succeeded Richard Pius Miles, Ordinis Prcpdieatorum = of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Ecclesiastical Title), as Bishop of Nashville upon the latter"s death on February 21, 1860.
He enlarged the cathedral and established an academy, boarding school, and orphanage. As a border state, Tennessee was the scene of some of the most severe battles during the Civil War (1861–1865).
While passing through the lines after a visit with Bishop Martin John Spalding at Louisville, Whelan was accused of making remarks within Union lines which the Confederates thought had influenced the movements of the Union Army. Whelan briefly retired to Saint Joseph"s Convent before taking up residence at Saint Thomas Church in Zanesville.
He devoted his time to theological, historical, and chemical studies, and published a defense of papal infallibility in 1871.
He later died at age 54.