John Joseph Graham

John Graham was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of seven children of James and Margaret Graham.[1] His parents were Irish immigrants from County Antrim.[2] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Michael's Church in his native city.[2] He then attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School, also in Philadelphia.[1]

Graham began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook.[1] He continued his studies at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, where he earned a doctorate in theology.[2]

On February 26, 1938, Graham was ordained a priest by Archbishop Luigi Traglia at the Pontifical Roman Seminary in Rome.[3] Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as a curate at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Glenside from 1939 to 1940.[1] He then taught at Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia for five years before serving as a curate at St. George Church in Glenolden (1945–46).[1]

From 1946 to 1959, Graham was assistant superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.[2] He served as superintendent of special education in the archdiocese from 1959 to 1967.[2] During his eight-year tenure, he developed many educational facilities to care for children with special needs.[1] He was named a domestic prelate by Pope John XXIII in September 1959.[1] In addition to his role as superintendent, he served as administrator, and later pastor, of Holy Angels Church in Philadelphia from 1960 to 1964.[2]

On November 25, 1963, Graham was appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Sabrata by Pope Paul VI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on January 7, 1964 from Archbishop John Krol, with Bishops George L. Leech and Gerald Vincent McDevitt serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.[3] As an auxiliary bishop, he served as pastor of St. Helena's Church in the Olney section of Philadelphia from 1964 to 1990.[1]

Graham attended the last two sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1964 and 1965.[3] He also served as archdiocesan director of the Catholic Charities Appeal (1964–76), chairman of the Cardinal's Commission on Human Relations (1964–82), a member of the Archdiocesan College of Consultors (1964–99), and a member of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests (1984–99).[2] He was an active supporter of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.[1]

After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Graham resigned as auxiliary bishop on November 8, 1988.[3] He died at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby on August 4, 2000 at age 86.[1]