John W. Shanahan

John Walter Shanahan (January 3, 1846 – February 19, 1916) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

John Shanahan was born in Silver Lake, Pennsylvania, to John and Margaret (née Donovan) Shanahan, who immigrated to the United States from County Cork, Ireland.

[3] On January 2, 1899, Shanahan was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg by Pope Leo XIII.

[2] He received his episcopal consecration on May 1, 1899, from Archbishop Patrick Ryan, with Bishops Ignatius Horstmann and Edmond Prendergast serving as co-consecrators.

[4] He opened an orphanage for girls at Sylvan Heights and a protectory for boys at Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, and completed construction on the Cathedral of St. Patrick in 1907.