Fergus McEvay

McEvay was born on December 8, 1852, in Lindsay, Ontario, to Michael and Mary (née Lehane) McEvay. His father died in 1855 when McEvay was only two years old, He later went to live with an uncle in Ennismore and initially pursued a business education. In 1874, McEvay entered St. Michael's College at Toronto, where he made his classical studies and won medals in literature. ==Priesthood==

McEvay was ordained a priest on July 9, 1882, by Bishop James Vincent Cleary for the Diocese of Kingston. He was soon transferred to the Diocese of Peterborough and assigned to the missions at Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon. He was named rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains in 1887 by Bishop Thomas Joseph Dowling. During this time, he secured property for St. Joseph's Hospital in Peterborough and oversaw the initial construction. When Bishop Dowling was transferred to the Diocese of Hamilton in 1889, McEvay accompanied him and was appointed rector of St. Mary's Cathedral and vicar general of the diocese. While in Hamilton, he worked on renovations to the cathedral, built a mortuary chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, and coordinated the establishment of two new parishes in the city. In 1892, he was named a papal chamberlain by Pope Leo XIII with the title of monsignor. ==Episcopal career==

Bishop of London On May 27, 1899, Pope Leo appointed McEvay the fourth Bishop of London, Ontario. By the end of his tenure in 1908, the Catholic population was unchanged but every parish now had a parochial school. Among the parishes he founded were churches for the growing communities of Italian, Polish, and Ukrainian immigrants, also working to recruit priests who spoke their languages. He eventually succumbed to his illness and died at his residence in Toronto on May 10, 1911, at age 58. == See also ==