John Joseph Hennessy, D. D., Roman Catholic Bishop of Wichita, was born near Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland, July 19, 1847, the son of Michael and Ellen (Cronin) Hennessy. While still a child his parents came to the United States, locating in St. Louis, Mo., where he grew to manhood. Having determined to devote his life to the church he entered the Christian Brothers College at St. Louis, graduating there in 1862, after which he completed his theological course at the Seminary of St. Francis de Sales, Milwaukee, Wis., and his philosophical course at Cape Girardeau, Mo. Being under canonical age, he was ordained into the priesthood by Papal dispensation in 1869. From this time until 1880 he carried on missionary work in ten counties of the Iron Mountain district of southern Missouri. Father Hennessy built churches at Bismarck, Doniphan, Poplar Bluff, Gatewood, Graniteville and Farmington. In 1871 he founded the Railroad Men's Benevolent Union and six years later established the Ursuline Convent at Arcadia, Mo. He was elected procurator and vice-president of the board of managers of the Catholic Procurate of St. Louis in 1878, which position he held for eight years. From 1880 to 1886 he was editor of the St. Louis Youths' Magazine; in 1882 he was elected secretary of the St. Louis Orphan Board, one of the greatest charitable organizations in the Middle West; became treasurer of the diocesean clergy fund and spiritual director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. From 1880 to 1888 he was rector of St. John's Church of St. Louis.

When the bishopric of Wichita became vacant in 1887, Father Hennessy was appointed to the office, being consecrated on Nov. 30, 1888, in St. John's Church, St. Louis, by Most Rev. Peter Richard Kendrick, of St. Louis. Since his appointment the diocese of Wichita has been enlarged and now covers an area of 42,915 square miles. Bishop Hennessy has been instrumental in building many new churches in the diocese as well as chapels and schools. It was due to his efforts that St. Francis Hospital was established in Wichita, as well as other Catholic institutions. Today Bishop Hennessy is regarded as one of the leading men of the church in the Southwest.