John Tuigg

Who was John Tuigg?

John Tuigg was the third Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tuigg was born in 1820 in Donoughmore, Ireland, and educated at All Hallows College in Drumcondra. In 1849, when Michael O'Connor—the bishop of Pittsburgh at the time—traveled to Dublin, calling for volunteers for missionary work in America, young Tuigg was the first to respond. He reached Pittsburgh in December 1849, and finished his studies at St. Michael's Seminary, where he was appointed professor for a brief time. Tuigg was ordained a priest in May 1850, and was soon after appointed secretary to the bishop, Michael Domenec. He was also an assistant priest in Saint Paul Cathedral. Tuigg was then transferred to St. Bridget's parish, and with characteristic energy, immediately began to erect a new church. Soon, however, he was transferred to mission work in Altoona, where he remained until 1876.

Father Tuigg had been appointed vicar general for the eastern part of the diocese of Pittsburgh, but the Diocese of Allegheny split from the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Bishop Domenec was selected to lead the new diocese.