Benedict Joseph Fenwick was an important American Catholic prelate, Jesuit and educator. He founded the College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts as well as many other educational institutions throughout New York City and Boston. Born in Maryland he entered into the Society of Jesus and began his ministry at St Peter's Church in NYC before becoming pastor of original St Patrick’s Cathedral, president twice at Georgetown College then vicar general for Archdiocese of Baltimore until 1825 when he became Bishop Of Boston during a time with lots Irish immigration facing anti-Catholicism that led to burning Ursuline Convent & threats against him but despite this establishing churches, schools what would be known later on by Pope Pius XII “the project which will...be forever associated with your name: The founding In America Of An Institution Whereon Would Shine Forth That Splendid Light Which Disseminates Knowledge Far And Wide."-John Carroll.
John Fenwick was a Jesuit priest who first served in New York City and then moved to Washington, D.C., where he became the president of Georgetown College. He also helped resolve a dispute between French- and English-speaking Catholics at St Mary's Church in Charleston, South Carolina by preaching both languages during services. In 1825 he briefly returned as acting president at Georgetown before becoming spiritual director of Mount Carmel Monastery near Port Tobacco, Maryland until his death two years later.
Bishop Fenwick was chosen by Pope Leo XII to be the second Bishop of Boston in 1825. He went on a spiritual retreat for 8 days before being consecrated as a bishop and then arrived in Boston 3 months later. There were only 10,000 Catholics living there at that point but it quickly grew with Irish immigration so that 30,000 people belonged to his diocese just eight years later! To help out all these new Catholic families he sent some seminarians away for training while also teaching others himself right from his home where they would become priests too. The number had grown to 24 by 1833 when part of New England left him and formed their own Diocese called Hartford because 70,000 people now belonged under Fenwick's jurisdiction. Sadly he died in August 1846 after having done lots more good work like setting up Sunday schools with classes even for adults plus an orphanage run by nuns who came from Emmitsburg Maryland which is still remembered today through two special places named after Bishop Fenwick - one high school (1959) and another public school (1912-1981).
Bishop John Fenwick worked hard to create a college for Catholic students. He first tried in Boston, but the Jesuits declined his invitation and he had to move on with another plan. In 1835, he bought some land called Benedicta in Maine where people could live as part of an utopian community while attending school. Unfortunately no one wanted to go there so instead him moved it closer by buying more land near Worcester Massachusetts from James Fitton who owned 60 acres (24 hectares). This was turned into College of Holy Cross which opened construction that same year and is still around today! Bishop Fenwick also helped other causes like establishing newspapers such as The Catholic Press or edit books written about the diocese's history plus help build a convent nearby for Ursuline nuns too!
In the 1830s, there was a lot of tension in Boston between. This led to some people thinking bad things were happening at Catholic convents. On August 10th 1834, posters threatened that if the convent wasn't investigated by authorities it would be destroyed. The next of 2,000 surrounded the convent with masks on their faces or painted faces and started throwing bricks through windows then setting it on fire! Nobody put out the fire even though they could have so all but one person involved got away without punishment. After this happened more anti-Catholic events occurred including an effigy being shot (a dummy made to look like someone) during another riot called Broad Street Riot in 1837 where Irish Catholics had guns too! In 1840 two priests caused big fights which almost turned into violence until Bishop Fenwick stepped in - he promised punishments for not obeying him & transferred both priests away from St Mary’s Church eventually ending any issues here.
