1832. In 1838 John Vincent O'Reilly was sent by Kenrick to assist in administering to the Catholics of this extensive territory. He took up his residence at Silver Lake and his charge comprised Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter and Sullivan counties in Pennsylvania and the five adjoining counties in New York. The early history of the diocese is intimately bound to the labors of Father O'Reilly and the foundations of many present parishes were the results of his missionary zeal. Bishops Current Bishop On February 23, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Joseph C. Bambera the tenth Bishop of Scranton. Bambera was ordained and installed as bishop on April 26, 2010, at St. Peter's Cathedral. Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, served as principal consecrator and James Timlin, Bishop Emeritus of Scranton, and John Dougherty, former Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton, served as co-consecrators. Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio (papal ambassador) to the United States, read the papal appointment letter. Bishops of Scranton The following bishops have served as the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. William O'Hara (1868–1899) Michael Hoban (1899–1927; coadjutor bishop 1896–1899) Thomas C. O'Reilly (1927–1938) William Hafey (1938–1954; coadjutor bishop 1937–1938) Jerome Hannan (1954–1965) J. Carroll McCormick (1966–1983) John O'Connor (1983–1984), appointed Archbishop of New York (Cardinal in 1985) James Timlin (1984–2003) Joseph Martino (2003–2009) Joseph Bambera (2010–present) Former auxiliary bishops Andrew Brennan (1923–1926), appointed Bishop of Richmond Martin O'Connor (1942–1946), appointed Rector of the Pontifical North American College and later President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and Apostolic Nuncio and Titular Archbishop Henry Klonowski (1947–1973) James Timlin (1976–1984), appointed Bishop of Scranton Francis X. DiLorenzo (1988–1994), appointed Bishop of Honolulu and later Bishop of Richmond John Dougherty (1995–2009) Other priests in the diocese who became bishops Eugene Augustine Garvey, appointed Bishop of Altoona in 1901 Joseph Kopacz, appointed Bishop of Jackson in 2013 Jeffrey Walsh, appointed Bishop of Gaylord in 2021 Education Catholic education in the diocese began with the pioneer Father O'Reilly. In the autumn of 1842, he opened a college at St. Joseph's, Susquehanna County. Under his supervision, it grew and flourished and, in the 22 years of its existence, the college educated two bishops and over 20 priests. It was destroyed by fire on January 1, 1864, and was never rebuilt. St. Thomas College was established in 1888 and came under the direction of the Christian Brothers. In 1938, it was