Daniel Francis Desmond

Daniel Desmond was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Daniel and Catherine (née Lynch) Desmond.[1] His father was a shoemaker from Bandon, County Cork.[2] After graduating from St. James High School at Haverhill in 1900, he studied at Holy Cross College in Worcester, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906.[1] He completed his theological studies at St. John Seminary in Brighton.[1]

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Gaudentius Anderson on June 9, 1911.[3] He then served as a curate at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Beachmont until 1912, when he was transferred to St. Joseph Church in Medford.[1] During World War I, he was a chaplain in the United States Army (with the rank of First Lieutenant) from 1918 to 1919.[1] Returning from service, he became a curate at St. Clement Church in Somerville and was later named director of Catholic Charities (1926).[1]

On December 16, 1932, Desmond was appointed the fifth Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana by Pope Pius XI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on January 5, 1933 from Bishop John Bertram Peterson, with Bishops Joseph Edward McCarthy and Francis Spellman serving as co-consecrators, at Holy Cross Cathedral.[3] He established 10 new schools, 22 parishes, and 35 churches. After twelve years as bishop, he died from a heart attack while visiting family in Massachusetts, aged 61.[4]