Background
Philip Joseph Garrigan was born on September 8, 1840, in Cavan, Ireland, from which place in 1844, his parents emigrated to Boston, and thence to Lowell, Massachusets.
Philip Joseph Garrigan was born on September 8, 1840, in Cavan, Ireland, from which place in 1844, his parents emigrated to Boston, and thence to Lowell, Massachusets.
Garrigan attended the grammar and high schools, and after working a few years entered St. Charles’ College, Ellicott City, Maryland, from which he was graduated in 1862. He then studied theology at the Provincial Seminary of Troy, New York, and was ordained, June 11, 1870.
Garrigan served two years as a curate of St. John’s Church, Worcester, before he was called back to Troy as director of the Seminary. In 1875, he was made rector of St. Bernard’s Church, Fitchburg, Mass. Here he displayed unusual administrative ability and the keen interest in parochial education and won local distinction as a preacher.
Although a permanent pastor, in 1889, he accepted the invitation of Rector J. J. Keane to serve as vice-rector of the newly established Catholic University of America.
Frequently nominated for bishoprics, he was finally named by Leo XIII as the first bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, in the metropolitan province of Dubuque over which Keane ruled as archbishop.
Consecrated by Bishop Thomas D. Beaven in the Springfield cathedral on May 25, Garrigan immediately set forth for his diocese, which included twenty-four counties in the rich agricultural section of northwest Iowa.
Chosen as a Northerner who might popularize the University in Catholic circles of New England, Garrigan proved an able executive who calmly went his way during an era when the new institution was subject to bitter criticism and stood loyally by Keane in the controversy which led to the latter’s “deposition. ” He also aided materially in the foundation of Trinity College, a neighboring school for the higher education of women. Under his direction the diocese made notable progress: the number of priests increased from 95 to 140 and churches and missions from 116 to 143; Trinity College for boys was established (1913); three hospitals were opened at Sioux City and Fort Dodge; and a score of parochial schools were built, as well as an orphanage, a foundling asylum, and a model House of the Good Shepherd for wayward girls.
Garrigan stood out as a financial administrator, though not without an appeal as a courtly, personable gentleman who was intensely interested in civic and state affairs.
Since there was nothing picturesque in his solid work, however, he attracted little attention beyond the confines of the state. He is said never to have recovered from the poisoned soup served by an anarchistic chef at the great banquet in honor of Mundelein’s installation as archbishop of Chicago.
He was then an old man, but he continued to carry on for three years and took a rather active part in the various patriotic movements during the World War.
1800 - 3 January 1877
1809 - 2 January 1888
28 June 1843 - 23 August 1889
1851 - 20 April 1906
1845 - 20 January 1890
Died on 6 June 1925.
1835 - 21 May 1905
February 1840 - 12 February 1926
1830 - 18 January 1912
