Bishop John J. Hughes, His Church and the Coming of Age of New York's Catholic Irish traces key events in the transformation of the Catholic Church in New York and nationally as the result of the aggressive leadership of New York's fourth diocesan Bishop and first Archbishop, John J. Hughes. Hughes accomplished much for the Church through the building of a strong Catholic community spurred in large part from the massive number of Catholic Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine in Ireland. Though never far from controversy, Hughes, through emphasis on education and the establishment of a strong network of religious, charitable and social institutions, started his people and church on the road to political power and influence in 19th century America and beyond.