James McGuigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Charles McGuigan |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto |
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Toronto |
| Appointed | December 22, 1934 |
| Predecessor | Neil McNeil |
| Successor | Philip Pocock |
| Other posts | Archbishop of Regina (1930-1934) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 26, 1918 |
| Consecration | May 15, 1930 by Henry Joseph O'Leary |
| Created Cardinal | February 18, 1946 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 26, 1894 Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Died | April 8, 1974 (aged 79) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coat of arms |  |
James Charles McGuigan (November 26, 1894 – April 8, 1974) was an important leader in the Catholic Church in Canada. He served as the Archbishop of Toronto for almost 37 years, from 1934 to 1971. This made him the longest-serving Archbishop of Toronto. In 1946, he became the first English-speaking Canadian to be named a Cardinal.
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Early Life and Education
James Charles McGuigan was born on November 26, 1894. His hometown was Hunter River, on Prince Edward Island. He was the third of eight children. When he was only five years old, he reportedly told his mother he wanted to "preach big" when he grew up. He went to public school in Hunter River, where his uncle was the teacher.
McGuigan continued his studies at Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown from 1908 to 1911. He was a very good student, winning the Governor General's Academic Medal in his last year. To pay for his education, he worked as a teacher in different places. He then spent two years at Saint Dunstan's University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1914. He studied to become a priest at the Grand Seminary of Quebec, where he earned a special degree in theology in 1918.
Becoming a Priest
On May 26, 1918, James McGuigan became a priest. Bishop Henry Joseph O'Leary ordained him at St. Augustine's Church in South Rustico. After this, he became a professor at Saint Dunstan's University. He taught subjects like mathematics, chemistry, and physics.
However, the 1918 influenza pandemic caused the school to close temporarily. McGuigan himself got sick. He recovered, but he lost much of his hearing. In 1919, he became the secretary to Bishop O'Leary. When O'Leary became the Archbishop of Edmonton the next year, McGuigan stayed on as his secretary. He later took on other important roles in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, such as chancellor and vicar general.
In 1925, when St. Joseph's Cathedral opened, McGuigan became its rector. He also studied canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was later made rector of the new St. Joseph Seminary.
Leading in Regina
On January 30, 1930, Pope Pius XI chose McGuigan to be the second Archbishop of Regina. He was officially made an archbishop on May 15, 1930. At 35 years old, he was the youngest Catholic archbishop in the world.
When he arrived in Regina, things were difficult. The Great Depression meant many people in Saskatchewan needed help. Also, the Archdiocese had a lot of debt. McGuigan worked hard to fix these problems. He sold his official home to help pay off the debt. He also asked for money from richer Catholic areas in Canada.
During his four years in Regina, McGuigan did many important things. He held the first Eucharistic congress in western Canada. He also started religious vacation schools and created the Catholic Federated Charities.
Archbishop of Toronto
After the death of Archbishop Neil McNeil, McGuigan was chosen to be the Archbishop of Toronto. This happened on December 22, 1934. He officially took charge of the Archdiocese on March 20, 1935.
In Toronto, McGuigan faced similar money problems. The Archdiocese had a large debt. However, he received a big gift of $500,000 from a Catholic businessman named Frank Patrick O'Connor. Within eight years, McGuigan managed to cut the debt in half.
When World War II began in 1939, McGuigan spoke out against the war. He said that Canada would stand with Great Britain. During the war, he allowed priests to serve as chaplains for the military. He also helped organize 90 women's groups to send care packages to soldiers overseas.
After the war, the number of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Toronto grew a lot. It went from 135,000 to 650,000 during McGuigan's time. He supported sending aid to Europe to help stop the spread of communism. He was also given a special honorary title by Pope Pius XII in 1943.
Becoming a Cardinal
On February 18, 1946, Pope Pius XII made McGuigan a Cardinal. This was a very big honor. He became the first English-speaking Canadian to be named a Cardinal. He said it was "the greatest surprise of my life." For several years, he was the only Cardinal in Canada. He took part in the 1958 papal conclave that elected Pope John XXIII.
McGuigan felt the strain of his many duties. He asked for help, and Archbishop Philip Pocock joined him in 1961. McGuigan attended the Second Vatican Council, a very important meeting of Catholic leaders, from 1962 to 1965. He also participated in the 1963 papal conclave that elected Pope Paul VI.
James Charles McGuigan officially retired as Archbishop of Toronto on March 30, 1971. He had served for almost 37 years. He passed away from a heart attack on April 8, 1974, at the age of 79. He is buried at Regina Cleri Cemetery in Toronto.
Images for kids
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Cardinal McGuigan's coat of arms
