While Hoban was coadjutor bishop of Scranton, a schism occurred in the diocese that resulted in the formation of the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States.

[1] Hoban attended private primary schools in Hawley, then was sent to St. Francis Xavier's College in New York City at 14.

[3][2] While in Rome, Hoban was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Scranton by Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta on May 22, 1880 in the Cathedral of St. John Lateran.

[4] [2]After his return to Pennsylvania in July 1880, Hoban served as a curate at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Towanda.

[4] He received his episcopal consecration on March 22, 1896, from Archbishop Francesco Satolli, with Bishops Thomas McGovern and Thomas Daniel Beaven serving as co-consecrators, at St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton[4] [2] Later in 1896, a schism erupted at Sacred Hearts Parish in the coal mining area of South Scranton.

The English-speaking miners were in the parish were suspicious of an influx of Polish immigrants into the mine fields, fearful that they would drive down wages.