February 17, 1921
Father Peter Tierney
Father Tierney was born on June 3, 1865 in Ireland and as a small boy came with his family to the United States where they settled in Massachusetts. After studying at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, NY and St. Bonaventure’s College and Seminary in Allegheny, NY, he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 1, 1901. For five months he did supply work and then was assigned to his only pastoral assignment at Holy Name Parish in Coffeyville. During his twenty years in the parish he bought land on which he built a rectory and the present church. His hope was to build a new school and move the students from their classrooms in the old church but he died before he realized his dream. Bishop Henry Tihen, a close friend of Fr. Tierney, celebrated his funeral Mass in Coffeyville. An article in The Catholic Advance noted that, with thousands of people in attendance, Fr. Tierney’s funeral was the largest ever held in Coffeyville. (The Catholic Advance, Mar. 5, 1921) Fr. Tierney was buried in Calvary Cemetery on land adjoining Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville which he had purchased for a Catholic cemetery.