Matthew Francis Brady

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Matthew Francis Brady
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; Matthew Francis Brady
Bishop of Manchester
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Diocese of Manchester
In office	November 11, 1944—September 20, 1959
Predecessor	John Bertram Peterson
Successor	Ernest John Primeau
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Burlington (1938-1944)
Orders
Ordination	June 10, 1916; by John Joseph Nilan
Consecration	October 26, 1938; by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Personal details
Born	January 15, 1893; Waterbury, Connecticut, US
Died	September 20, 1959 (aged 66); Manchester, New Hampshire, US
Education	American College of the Immaculate Conception; St. Bernard's Seminary

Matthew Francis Brady (January 15, 1893 – September 20, 1959) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Burlington in Vermont (1938–1944) and bishop of the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire (1944–1959).

Biography

Early life

Matthew Brady was born on January 15, 1893, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to John and Catherine (née Caffrey) Brady.^[1] After attending St. Thomas Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, he studied at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium. Returning to the United States, Brady entered St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York.^[1]

Priesthood

Brady was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Hartford by Bishop John Nilan on June 10, 1916.^[2] During World War I, Brady served as a chaplain in the United States Army from 1916 to 1918.^[1] After his discharge from the army, he did pastoral work in the Diocese of Hartford, and served as a professor at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, from 1922 to 1932.^[1]

Bishop of Burlington

On July 30, 1938, Brady was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Burlington by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on October 26, 1938, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Maurice F. McAuliffe and Joseph McCarthy serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington, Vermont.^[3]

Brady organized branches in his diocese of the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Youth Organization, and erected about a dozen new parishes in Fairfax, Gilman, North Troy, Orleans, and South Burlington, all in Vermont.^[4]

Bishop of Manchester

On January 17, 1945, Brady was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Manchester.^[5] He presided over a period of unprecedented growth in the diocese, founding 27 parishes in 11 years and authorizing the construction of nearly 50 churches and numerous schools, convents, and other facilities.^[6] The number of parishioners increased by 50,000, and the number of priests and religious from around 650 to over 1,600. For all these accomplishments he was nicknamed "Brady the Builder."^[6]

Death and legacy

Matthew Brady died in Manchester on September 20, 1959, at age 66. Bishop Brady High School in Concord, New Hampshire, and Brady Hall at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, are named in his honor.

References

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Joseph John Rice	Bishop of Burlington 1938–1944	Succeeded by Edward Francis Ryan
Preceded by John Bertram Peterson	Bishop of Manchester 1944–1959	Succeeded by Ernest John Primeau

[diocese-1] "Most Reverend Matthew Francis Brady, Fourth Bishop of Burlington". Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

[hierarchy-2] "Bishop Matthew Francis Brady". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.

[3] "Consecrated as Bishop; The Most Rev. M. F. Brady Heads Diocese of Burlington", The New York Times, October 27, 1938

[history-4] "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE BURLINGTON". Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

[5] Kelley, Richard. "Important Dates in the History of St. Joseph's Cathedral Parish", Saint Joseph Cathedral, Manchester, New Hampshire

[manchester-6] "Decades of Expansion and Growth (1933-1965): The Era Before the Second Vatican Council". Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.

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v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
Bishops	Ordinaries Denis Mary Bradley John Bernard Delany George Albert Guertin John Bertram Peterson Matthew Francis Brady Ernest John Primeau Odore Joseph Gendron Leo Edward O'Neil John Brendan McCormack Peter Anthony Libasci Auxiliaries Francis Joseph Christian Joseph John Gerry Robert Edward Mulvee
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of St. Joseph Abbey St. Anselm Abbey Parishes St. Anne of the Good Shepherd, Berlin St. Joseph Church, Claremont St. Thomas More Church, Durham Ste. Marie Church, Manchester St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Church, Nashua Former parishes St. Stanislaus Church, Nashua
Education	Higher education Rivier University Saint Anselm College Thomas More College of Liberal Arts High schools Bishop Guertin High School, Nashua Holy Family Academy, Manchester Mount Royal Academy, Sunapee St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover Trinity High School, Manchester Defunct institutions Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts
Priests	Thomas Michael O'Leary
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v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Bishops	Louis de Goesbriand John Stephen Michaud Joseph John Rice Matthew Francis Brady Edward Francis Ryan Robert Francis Joyce John Aloysius Marshall Kenneth Anthony Angell Salvatore Ronald Matano Christopher J. Coyne John Joseph McDermott
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Joseph Parishes St. Monica's Church, Barre Conversion of St. Paul Church, Barton St. Augustine Church, Montpelier St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Newport St. Peter's Church, Rutland St. Thomas Church, Underhill Saint Francis Xavier Church, Winooski Former parishes St. George's Church, Bakersfield Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Burlington
Education	Higher education Saint Michael's College Former colleges College of St. Joseph Trinity College High schools Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Rutland Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington Saint Michael Catholic School Brattleboro
Priests	Bernard Joseph Flanagan Louis Edward Gelineau
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