James Johnston Navagh
James Johnston Navagh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina, bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York and bishop of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey.
Biography
Early life
James Navagh was born on April 4, 1901, in Buffalo, New York to George and Catherine Navagh. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Canisius College in Buffalo and a Master of Arts from Niagara University in Lewiston, New York.
Priesthood
Navagh was ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop William Turner for the Diocese of Buffalo on December 21, 1929. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Navagh as a curate at Holy Cross Parish in Buffalo. In 1937, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Brant, New York. Navagh was named the first director of the Missionary Apostolate of the diocese in 1939, and served as pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Fredonia, New York, from 1940 to 1942.
On July 29, 1952, Navagh was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Raleigh and titular bishop of Ombi by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration at St. Joseph Cathedral on September 24, 1952, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Raymond Kearney and James H. Griffiths serving as co-consecrators.
Bishop of Ogdensburg
Navagh was named the seventh bishop of Ogdensburg by Pius XII on May 8, 1957. He founded Mater Dei College in Ogdensburg in 1960.
Bishop of Paterson
On February 12, 1963, Pope John XXIII appointed Navagh to succeed James A. McNulty as the fourth bishop of Paterson.James Navagh died on October 2, 1965, from a heart attack in Rome while attending the Second Vatican Council; he was age 64.