Outstanding as had been the feats of the founding prelate, his successor earned for himself a similar reputation. Bishop Michael J. Hoban, a native of the Diocese and first pastor of Saint Leo's Parish in Ashley, had assumed the office of Coadjutor to Bishop O'Hara on March 22, 1896, the day of his Episcopal Ordination. On February 3, 1899, he became the Ordinary of the Diocese.

           The next twenty-seven years were years of achievement. In the interim, the Diocese had grown to include 341 priests, 202 parishes, nine teaching orders of sisters, five communities of sisters with specialized apostolates, 65 parochial schools, three colleges, and four custodial institutions. But important as were those material successes, his spiritual accomplishments were perhaps even greater. Ethnic problems, not of his own making, brought schism to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

His charitable and judicious approach, however, stemmed the tide and prevented far worse effects from occurring.  It had been a difficult task. His death on November 13, 1926, marked the end of an era.