Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Bush V.F., Very Rev. Edward A. June 5, 1839 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

VERY REV. EDWARD A. BUSH, V. F.,
a courteous and scholarly gentleman and the present pastor of St. John's
Catholic Church of Altoona, was born at Montreal, Canada, June 5, 1839.  He
came to the United States in 1850, after the death of his parents.  His
preparatory studies were made at St. Francis and St. Vincent colleges, of
Pennsylvania and Bardstown, Kentucky.  He then entered St. Michael's
Seminary, of Pittsburg, under the presidency of Very Rev. James O'Connor, D.
D., afterwards Bishop of Omaha, and commenced his theological course, which
he finished at the same institution, where he had Rev. James Keogh, D. D., as
his professor of divinity.  After the completion of his theological course, he
was ordained to the priesthood on February 7, 1863, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Domenec.
      After ordination he remained at the seminary as professor of theology
until January 7, 1864, when he was appointed Rector of St. Francis College,
Loretto, Cambria county, where he remained in the discharge of the duties of
that position up to the spring of 1868.  He then went to St. Michael's
Seminary, where he was professor of theology until March, 1870, in which
month he was appointed Rector of St. Michael's Church at Loretto, where he
was faithfully engaged in pastoral labors for twenty years.  At the end of
that time, in the spring of 1890, he became Rector of St. John's Catholic
Church of Altoona, and during the same year was appointed Vicar Forane by Rt.
Rev. R. Phelan, D. D., Bishop of Pittsburg.
      St. John's Catholic congregation was organized in 1852 by Rev. John
Walsh, of Hollidaysburg, and its pastors since then have been:  Rev. John
Tingg, 1854; Rev. John Walsh, 1876; Very Rev. Thomas Ryan, 1880; Revs. T.
Briley, T. P. Smith, and J. O'Reilley succeeded in turn as acting pastors
till 1890, when Very Rev. Edward A. Bush became pastor.
      The first church building was a small frame structure, erected in 1854,
which was succeeded in 1875 by the present substantial and commodious brick
structure on Thirteenth Avenue, near Thirteenth Street.  As has been said,
the early history of this church is one of small beginnings, but the earnest
and self-sacrificing labors of its pastors have brought it up to its present
prosperous condition.  Its membership, under the efficient and practical
labors of Father Bush, has increased to nearly two thousand souls.  Father
Bush is a fine theologian and an active and energetic pastor, and has labored
faithfully and with good success for the mental and moral advancement of his
large and important congregation.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Lisa McLaughlin   lmclaughlin3@neo.rr.com

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