Tobias Mullen

Biography

Tobias Mullen was born in Urney, County Tyrone, the youngest of the six sons of James and Mary (née Travers) Mullen. He was educated at Castlefin school and at Maynooth College, where he studied theology and received minor orders. In 1843, he accepted an invitation from Bishop Michael O'Connor to join the Diocese of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

After completing his theological studies, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop O'Connor on September 1, 1844. He served for about two years as curate at the Cathedral of Pittsburgh, and was afterwards charged with the care of congregations at Johnstown and in Jefferson County. He was transferred to the rectorship of St. Peter's Church at Allegheny in 1854, and served as vicar general of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1864 to 1868.

On March 3, 1868, Mullen was appointed the third Bishop of Erie by Pope Pius IX. He received his episcopal consecration on the following August 2 from Bishop Michael Domenec, with Bishops James Frederick Wood and Louis Amadeus Rappe serving as co-consecrators. During his 31-year-long administration many priests were ordained, parishes established, churches and schools built, and conferences for the clergy held. He also founded the weekly Lake Shore Visitor, an orphanage, and two hospitals. His greatest accomplishment was the erection of St. Peter's Cathedral. Originally dubbed as "Mullen's Folly," its cornerstone was laid in 1875 and it was later dedicated in 1893.

Mullen suffered a paralytic stroke on May 20, 1897. He received John Edmund Fitzmaurice as his coadjutor bishop the following year. He remained in ill health until his death at age 82.