Matthew Francis Brady

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

Biography

Matthew Brady was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, to John and Catherine (née Caffrey) Brady.^[1] After attending St. Thomas Seminary in Hartford, he studied at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium, and at St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York.^[1] Brady was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Joseph Nilan on June 10, 1916.^[2] During World War I, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army from 1916 to 1918.^[1] He then did pastoral work in the Diocese of Hartford, and served as a professor at St. Thomas Seminary from 1922 to 1932.^[1]

On July 30, 1938, Brady was appointed the fourth Bishop of Burlington, Vermont, by Pope Pius XI.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 26 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Maurice F. McAuliffe and Joseph Edward McCarthy serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.^[2] He organized branches of the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Youth, and erected about a dozen new parishes in such places as Fairfax, Gilman, North Troy, Orleans, and South Burlington.^[3]

Brady was named the fifth Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire, by Pope Pius XII on November 11, 1944.^[2] He presided over a period of unprecedented growth in the Manchester Diocese, founding 27 parishes in 11 years and authorizing the construction of nearly 50 churches and numerous schools, convents, and other facilities.^[4] He also increased the number of Catholics by 50,000, and the number of priests and religious from around 650 to over 1,600.^[4] For all these accomplishments he was nicknamed "Brady the Builder."^[4]

Brady later died at age 66. Bishop Brady High School in Concord as well as Brady Hall, a residential dormitory on the campus of Saint Anselm College are named in his honor.

References

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. 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 Northeast Catholic College Rivier University Saint Anselm College Thomas More College of Liberal Arts High Schools Bishop Brady High School, Concord Bishop Guertin High School, Nashua Holy Family Academy, Manchester Mount Royal Academy, Sunapee St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover Trinity High School, Manchester
Priests	Thomas Michael O'Leary
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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
Churches	Cathedrals Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Co-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
Education	Higher Education College of St. Joseph Saint Michael's College Former college Trinity College High Schools Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Rutland Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington
Priests	Bernard Joseph Flanagan Louis Edward Gelineau
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