John Patrick Treacy

John Patrick Treacy (July 23, 1891 – October 11, 1964) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin from 1948 until his death in 1964.

Early life and education

Treacy was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the only child of John and Ann (née O'Kane) Treacy. He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, and studied at Harvard Law School before enrolling at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Following his graduation from the Catholic University in 1912, he returned to Massachusetts and studied at St. John's Seminary in Brighton.

Priesthood and ministry

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, on December 8, 1918.

After 12 years in parish work, Treacy became diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1931. He was elevated to a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XI in 1934. In 1939, he was named by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a 25-member committee for a good-neighbor mission to Latin America.

Bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin

On August 22, 1945, Treacy was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and titular bishop of Metelis by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 2 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edward Francis Hoban and William David O'Brien serving as co-consecrators.

Upon the death of Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick, Treacy succeeded him as the fifth Bishop of La Crosse on August 25, 1948. During his 16-year tenure, he founded Holy Cross Seminary, oversaw the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, and established 47 churches, 43 convents, and 42 schools. He also ordered the closing of the Necedah Shrine of Mrs. Mary Van Hoof in 1950. He attended the first two sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1963.

Treacy died at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse.