Regis Canevin
John Francis Regis Canevin was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania from 1904 to 1921. He was named a personal archbishop in 1904.
Biography
Early life
Regis Canevin was born on June 5, 1853, in Beatty, Pennsylvania, to Thomas and Rosanna Canevin, on a farm owned by the Sisters of Mercy. After receiving his early education at schools in Beatty, he entered St. Vincent CollegePriesthood
Canevin was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop John Tuigg on June 4, 1879, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.After his ordination, the diocese assigned Canevin as a curate at St. Mary's Parish in Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1881. He then served in the same capacity at St. Paul's Cathedral Parish in Pittsburgh for five years. In 1886, Canevin became chaplain at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum and the Western Penitentiary, both in Pittsburgh. He was also appointed as pastor of the mission church in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1888, Canevin was named chancellor of the diocese. He left that position in 1893 to serve as pastor of St. Philip's Church in Crafton, Pennsylvania. Canevin was named rector of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1895.Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Pittsburgh
On January 16, 1903, Canevin was appointed coadjutor bishop of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Sabratha by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on February 24, 1903, at Saint Paul Cathedral from Archbishop Patrick Ryan, with Bishops John W. Shanahan and Leo Haid serving as co-consecrators.On the death of Bishop Richard Phelan, Canevin automatically succeeded him to become the fifth bishop of Pittsburgh on December 20, 1904. He was the first American and the first native son of the diocese to become bishop. He penned the article on the "Diocese of Pittsburgh" for the Catholic Encyclopedia.