Joseph Francis McGrath

Joseph McGrath was born in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Ireland and did his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1895.[2] He served as a curate in the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, before doing missionary work among the Native Americans in Northern Michigan for two years.[1] He then went to Washington, where he served as a curate at the Cathedral of Seattle and afterwards as rector of St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma.[1]

On December 21, 1918, McGrath was appointed the second Bishop of Baker City by Pope Benedict XV.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on March 25, 1919 from Bishop Edward John O'Dea, with Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and John Patrick Carroll serving as co-consecrators.[2] He headed the diocese for thirty-one years, making him the longest-serving bishop in diocesan history. He died at age 79.