Fonds - Rev. William Ahern fonds

William Ahern (1860-1907), Catholic priest, was born in Waterford, Ireland, on 26 April 1860. He died in Brooklyn, New York, on 27 July 1907.

Ahern attended Mount Mellray College, Ireland, where he enrolled in the course of classics preparatory of philosophy and theology. He pursued these studies at All Hallows College, Dublin, where he remained until 1883. Ahern was ordained a priest in St. John's on 8 June 1883 by Thomas Joseph Power, Bishop of St. John's.

Ahern began his work at St. Mary's, St. Mary's Bay (1883-87). In 1887 he was transferred to St. Bonaventure's College and appointed Dean of Studies. He succeeded Michael A. Fitzgerald as President in 1888, until the administration of the institution was assumed by the Christian Brothers in 1889. After the transfer of the College to the Christian Brothers, Ahern accepted an appointment in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Parish, St. John's, where he remained for nearly three years.

In 1892 Ahern left Newfoundland and was incardinated into the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. For the next seven years, (1892-99), he worked as curate in St. Joseph's Parish, Brooklyn, under the pastoral leadership of Monsignor McNamara. Ahern was appointed Rector of St. Gabriel's Parish in the New Lots section of Brooklyn.