Ahern was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Francis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on January 27, 1945.[3] After his 1945 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Ahern as a curate at St. Helena's Parish in the Bronx.[4] He then worked with the Archdiocesan Mission Band until 1955, when he was named a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral.[5]
Ahern taught at St. Joseph's Seminary before Spellman named him as his priest seary in 1958.[1] In 1967, Ahern was named as pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in the Bronx.[5]
In 1972, Ahern and another cleric walked out of a Catholic Interracial Council dinner in New York City. They did not want to be present during a speech by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who had just vetoed a New York Legislature bill on abortion rights for women.[7]
As an auxiliary bishop, Ahern continued to serve at Our Lady of Angels Church and was named episcopal vicar for the Bronx.[8] He served as episcopal vicar for Staten Island and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Staten Island from 1980 to 1990.[1][9] While at Blessed Sacrament, he established the Seton Foundation, which created schools and programs for children with special needs. He then became archdiocesan vicar for development.[5][2]
Death and legacy
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Ahern resigned as an auxiliary bishop on April 26, 1994. He died on March 19, 2011[3] He was widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the spirituality of Thérèse de Lisieux.[2]
The Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School in Staten Island is named after Patrick Ahern.[10]
^"AUXILIARY BISHOPS ARE NAMED HERE; 2 Monsignors to Take Posts as Cardinal Cooke's Aides". The New York Times. 1970-02-05.
^ abcJones, Arthur (1995-11-03). "Going their way: for 58 years this dueling duo has forged a monument to friendship and priesthood". National Catholic Reporter.