Bernard Joseph Mahoney

[2] He received his early education at St. John's Academy in Rensselaer, but left school to work as a telegraph operator for Western Union in Albany.

[1] In the fall of 1895, he entered Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, graduating four years later at the top of his class.

John Patrick Farrelly as the spiritual director of his alma mater, the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

[4] During this time, he also earned the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology and arranged appointments for Americans seeking a papal audience.

[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 29 in Rome from Cardinal Gaetano de Lai, with Archbishop Giovanni Zonghi and Bishop Giacomo Sinibaldi serving as co-consecrators.