SWEENY, JOHN (1821-1901)

SWEENY, JOHN, Catholic parish priest, Chatham, 1846-49; b. Clones, Ireland, May 1821, s/o James Sweeny and Mary McGuire; ordained 1844; d. Saint John, 25 Mar 1901.

As stated in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, "John Sweeny was a native of Clones, but available evidence does not make clear whether he was born in the town or the parish." The town is in the present Republic of Ireland and the parish largely in Northern Ireland.

Sweeny was a student of the classical course at the former St Andrew's College in Prince Edward Island and was trained for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary in Quebec City. After his ordination he served in Saint John and was then appointed to succeed Father John Shanahan at Chatham. A voluntary responsibility which he assumed during his three years there was a mission to the leprosy patients at the lazaretto on Sheldrake Island. In 1848 he replaced Charles J. Peters on the Northumberland and Gloucester Board of Health, which had responsibility for the lazaretto.

In 1849 Sweeny was assigned to the mission of Barachois, near Shediac. While based there he was appointed vicar-general to Bishop William Dollard, and after Dollard's death in 1851 he became vicar-general to Bishop Thomas L. Connolly. He was awarded a DD by Pope Pius IX in 1858, and in 1859 was named to succeed Connolly as bishop of Saint John. He was consecrated in 1860 and was bishop until his death in 1901.