Archbishop John Joseph Lynch, C.M.

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John Joseph Lynch, C.M. was born on February 6, 1816 in Ireland. His philosophy and theology studies were made in the Seminary of St. Lazare, Paris where he was a novitiate for the Lazarist Order, also called the Congregation of the Priests of the Missions. He was ordained on June 10, 1843 in Maynooth, Ireland by Bp. Murray of Dublin. Father Lynch served as a missionary priest in Ireland until 1847 when he emigrated to Texas. He founded the Seminary of Our Lady of the Angels in Niagara Falls, New York and was Superior there until 1859.

On August 26, 1859, Father Lynch was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Toronto with right of succession. He was consecrated in Toronto on November 20, 1859 by Bp. de Charbonnel. Upon de Charbonnel's resignation on April 29, 1860, Coadjutor Bishop Lynch became Toronto's third Bishop.

The new Bishop visited every part of his diocese giving retreats, Forty Hours' Devotion and Confirmation. He also concentrated his efforts on obtaining basic rights and a fair Separate School system for Catholics. During Archbishop Lynch's episcopate, the Redemptorist Fathers, Carmelite Sisters, Sisters of the Precious Blood and Sisters of the Good Shepherd settled in Toronto.

On March 18, 1870 during Vatican Council I, the diocese was raised to an archbishopric by Pope Pius IX thereby elevating Bishop Lynch to the status of Archbishop. 

Bishop Timothy O'Mahoney was named Auxiliary Bishop in 1879 and assisted Abp. Lynch in the administration of the diocese. The Archbishop became ill in 1882 and died on May 12, 1888. His remains were interred in the garden of St. Michael's Cathedral.