James O'Reilly

Who was James O'Reilly?

James O'Reilly was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who, after arriving in the United States and serving as a priest, became the second Bishop of Fargo.

Born in the County Cavan townland of Lisgrea, O'Reilly was educated at All Hallows College in Dublin, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1882. His initial American placement was in Minnesota in the Archdiocese of St. Paul where he served as pastor of the parishes in Goodhue County's Belle Creek and Lake City as well as Washington County's Stillwater. In 1886 he was chosen as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Minneapolis.

On December 18, 1909, O'Reilly was appointed the second Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration on May 19, 1910 from Archbishop John Ireland, with Bishops James McGolrick and James Trobec serving as co-consecrators. He served as bishop for the next twenty-four years, until his death just over two months past his 79th birthday.