Early life John Fearns was born on June 25, 1897, in
New York City, and received his early education at
Cathedral College in Queens, New York. Deciding to become a priest, Fearns entered
St. Joseph's Seminary in
Yonkers, New York. Fearns then travelled to
Rome to reside at the
Pontifical North American College while continuing his studies. He earned a
Doctor of Sacred Theology degree after attending the
University of the Propaganda and the
Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Priesthood Fearns was
ordained to the
priesthood in Rome by Cardinal
Basilio Pompilj on February 19, 1922. After his 1922 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Fearns as
curate at parishes in
New Rochelle, Rye, and St. Clare's School in
Mount Hope. Fearns was appointed as a professor of
moral theology and
canon law at St. Joseph's Seminary in 1930. In 1940, he was named as rector of St. Joseph's. Fearns served as rector until 1956, when he was named
pastor of
St. Francis de Sales Church in Manhattan. While continuing to serve as pastor at St. Francis, Fearns' duties included administrative affairs, presiding at
confirmation and ordination ceremonies, and visitation. He stated,"The justification of a given test depends on the importance of the new knowledge or practice that the test is expected to supply, balanced against the damage that the test will probably cause." Between 1962 and 1965, Fearns attended all four sessions of the
Second Vatican Council in Rome. In 1966, Spellman named Fearns to the newly created office of
Episcopal Vicar for
Orange and
Rockland Counties. In an administrative innovation that resulted from the Second Vatican Council, he was one of six bishops appointed to devote more attention to the needs of local churches throughout the archdiocese In a move towards decentralization, the bishops were given authority to rule on issues such as the undertaking of
interfaith activities with non-Catholic churches that had before been the prerogative of the archbishop's office. Fearns later served as pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in
Newburgh, New York, until his retirement on August 12, 1972.
Death and legacy Fearns died on July 4, 1977, at
St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan after a long illness, at age 80. ==References==