Bishop James C. Timlin was born on August 5, 1927, in Scranton, the son of the late James C. and Helen Norton Timlin.

He received his elementary education at Saint John the Evangelist Grade School, South Scranton, and Holy Rosary Grade School, North Scranton. He is a graduate of Holy Rosary High School, North Scranton, and St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, before enrolling in the North American College, Rome, Italy, where he completed his studies for the priesthood.

Bishop Timlin was ordained in Rome by the Most Reverend Martin J. O’Connor, D.D., then Rector of North American College, on July 16, 1951. After his ordination, he continued studies in Theology in Rome before returning to the Diocese where he was appointed as an Assistant Pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, in 1952.  

On June 12, 1953, he was assigned to Saint Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Scranton, where he served as an Assistant Pastor until September 12, 1966, when he was named Assistant Chancellor of the Diocese and Secretary to the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., Sixth Bishop of Scranton. He was appointed as Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, on August 3, 1967. He became Chancellor of the Diocese on December 15, 1971, and was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness on April 23, 1972.

Bishop Timlin served as Chairman of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and the Priests’ Education Committee, as well as librarian and secretary at St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton.  On July 26, 1972, he was appointed to the Diocesan Board of Consultors and, on May 30, 1975, he was elected President of the Board of Directors of The Catholic Light.

He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton on August 3, 1976, and ordained in Saint Peter’s Cathedral on September 21 of that same year. He served a five-year term as Episcopal Moderator of the National Association of Holy Name Societies.
He became Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton on September 21, 1976, and Pastor of the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord, Scranton, on September 4, 1979.

Bishop John J. O’Connor appointed him Chairman of the St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, Board of Advisors and Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Diocesan Synod on July 28, 1983. Upon the transfer of Bishop O’Connor to the Archdiocese of New York in March of 1984, Bishop Timlin was elected Diocesan Administrator by the Diocesan Board of Consultors. He was appointed Eighth Bishop of Scranton by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, on April 24, 1984, and was installed on June 7, 1984.

Bishop Timlin has served as a member of the National Advisory Council and the Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Chairman of Region 3 of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He also
served a five-year term as President of the Institute for Religious Life. Bishop Timlin was appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Synod of Bishops on Consecrated Life in 1994.

Bishop Timlin served a ten-year term as Episcopal Liaison to the Civil Aviation Apostolate, and as a consultant to the Bishop’s Committee on Migration. He also served as Chairman of the Roman Catholic-Polish National Catholic Dialogue and as a consultant to the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

The publication of the acceptance by Our Holy Father of the resignation of Bishop Timlin occurred on July 25, 2003, and on July 28, 2003, the Diocesan Board of Consultors elected Bishop Timlin Diocesan Administrator, a position His Excellency served in until September 30, 2003. Bishop Timlin, while holding the title of Bishop Emeritus, was appointed Administrator of Saint Joseph’s Church, Wilkes-Barre, on February 4, 2004.

On July 6, 2004, Bishop Timlin assumed new duties as rector of Villa St. Joseph, Dunmore, the diocesan residence for retired priests, where he continues to serve today.
 

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