Regis Canevin
John Francis Regis Canevin was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1904 to 1921.Biography
Regis Canevin was born at Beatty in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania to Thomas and Rosanna Canevin. After receiving his early education at schools in his native city, he entered St. Vincent College in 1871 and later St. Vincent Seminary in 1875. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1879.
Canevin's first assignment was as a curate at St. Mary's Church in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1881. He then served in the same capacity at St. Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh for five years.
In 1886, he became chaplain at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum and the Western Penitentiary, as well as pastor of the mission in Canonsburg. He served as chancellor of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1888 until 1893, when he became pastor of St. Philip's Church in Crafton. He was named rector of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1895.
On January 16, 1903, Canevin was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop of Sabratha by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following February 24 from Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, with Bishops John W. Shanahan and Leo Michael Haid serving as co-consecrators. Upon the death of Bishop Richard Phelan, Canevin succeeded him to become the fifth Bishop of Pittsburgh on December 20, 1904. He was the first American and the first native son of the diocese to become bishop. He penned the article on the "Diocese of Pittsburg" for the Catholic Encyclopedia.
After 16 years as bishop, Canvein retired due to ill health on January 9, 1921; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Pelusium by Pope Benedict XV on the same date. He later died at Mercy Hospital at age 73, and is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Lawrenceville.
