Patrick Ahern

Patrick Vincent Ahern (March 8, 1919 – March 19, 2011) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1970 to 1994.

Early life
Patrick Ahern was born on March 8, 1919, in Manhattan. He first attended Blessed Sacrament School and St. Agnes Boys High School, both in Manhattan. He then went to Manhattan College and Cathedral College He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.

Ahern later attended St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Priesthood
Ahern was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Francis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on January 27, 1945. After his 1945 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Ahern as a curate at St. Helena's Parish in the Bronx. He then worked with the Archdiocesan Mission Band until 1955, when he was named a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Ahern taught at St. Joseph's Seminary before Spellman named him as his priest seary in 1958. In 1967, Ahern was named as pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in the Bronx.

Auxiliary Bishop of New York
On February 3, 1970, Ahern was named an auxiliary bishop for New York and titular bishop of Naiera by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on March 19, 1970, from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Archbishop John Maguire and Bishop Edwin Broderick serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

In 1972, Ahern and another cleric walked out of a Catholic Interracial Council dinner in New York City. They did not want to be present during a speech by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who had just vetoed a New York Legislature bill on abortion rights for women.

As an auxiliary bishop, Ahern continued to serve at Our Lady of Angels Church and was named episcopal vicar for the Bronx. He served as episcopal vicar for Staten Island and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Staten Island from 1980 to 1990. While at Blessed Sacrament, he established the Seton Foundation, which created schools and programs for children with special needs. He then became archdiocesan vicar for development.

Death and legacy
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Ahern resigned as an auxiliary bishop on April 26, 1994. He died on March 19, 2011 He was widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the spirituality of Thérèse de Lisieux.

The Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School in Staten Island is named after Patrick Ahern.

Published works

 * Maurice and Therese: The Story of Love, Doubleday, 2001. ISBN 978-0-385-49740-4

Awards

 * 2007: Eleanor and Paul Proske Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to the Poor