Eugene J. McGuinness

Eugene Joseph McGuinness (September 6, 1889 – December 27, 1957) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina (1937–1944) and as bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa in Oklahoma (1948–1957).

Early life
Eugene McGuinness was born on September 6, 1889, in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, to Daniel and Mary (née Flood) McGuinness. He received his early education at the parochial school of Holy Infancy Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then earned Doctor of Both Laws and Doctor of Sacred Theology degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines.

Priesthood
McGuinness was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Archbishop Edmond Prendergast on May 22, 1915. Over the next several years, McGuinness then served as a curate at St. Paul's Parish, St. Agatha's Parish, St. John's Parish, and at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, all in Philadelphia.

McGuinness was named assistant director of the local Society for the Propagation of the Faith, then as field secretary in 1919. He was name a vice-president in 1920 of the national Catholic Church Extension Society. McGuinness served as executive secretary of the American Board of Catholic Missions from 1923 to 1937, and was named a domestic prelate by the Vatican in 1929.

Bishop of Raleigh
On October 13, 1937, McGuinness was appointed bishop of Raleigh by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on December 21, 1937, from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, with bishops William O'Brien and Hugh L. Lamb serving as co-consecrators.

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Oklahoma City
McGuinness was appointed coadjutor bishop of Oklahoma City-Tulsa and titular bishop of Ilium on November 11, 1944, by Pope Pius XII. After the death of Bishop Francis Kelley on February 1, 1948, McGuinness automatically succeeded him as the third bishop of Oklahoma City-Tulsa.

During his nine-year administration, McGuinness saw the Catholic population in the state grow by almost 40 percent and received 1,242 adult converts in 1957 alone. Priestly and religious vocations flourished, and he made trips to Ireland and Poland to recruit clergy.

Death and legacy
Eugene McGuinness died on December 27, 1957, at age 68.