Early years John Cunningham was born on June 20, 1842 in Irremore,
County Kerry, in Ireland. He received his early education in
Listowel in County Kerry. After coming to the United States in 1860, he enrolled at
St. Benedict's College in
Atchison,
Kansas. He completed his
theological studies at St. Francis' Seminary in
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
Priesthood Cunningham was
ordained to the priesthood in
Leavenworth, Kansas, by Bishop
John Baptiste Miège for the
Diocese of Leavenworth on August 8, 1865. After his ordination, Bishop
Louis Mary Fink tasked Cunningham with raising securing funds to pay off the remaining debt on Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Concordia. He was also asked to assist parishioners during the
depressed economy of the period. In 1877, Cunningham was named
pastor of Assumption Parish in
Topeka, Kansas. Fink in 1881 appointed him as his
vicar general and
rector of Immaculate Conception.
Bishop of Concordia On May 14, 1898, Cunningham was appointed the second bishop of Concordia by
Pope Leo XIII. He received his
episcopal consecration on September 21, 1898, from Archbishop
John Joseph Kain, with Bishops
John Joseph Hennessy and
Thomas Bonacum serving as
co-consecrators, at Leavenworth. Described as the "Diocesan Builder," Cunningham erected 54 churches, 22 schools, and three hospitals during his tenure. He also dedicated Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Concordia and laid the
cornerstone for the Nazareth Motherhouse in 1902. He founded Hays Catholic College in
Hays, Kansas, and St. Joseph's Orphanage, in addition to several
rectories and
convents.
Death Cunningham died on June 23, 1919, after an extended illness, at age 76. He was buried in the Nazareth Cemetery at Concordia. ==References==