On thursday, June 7th, 1917 in succession to the late Dr. S. Reville, Dr McCarthy was consecrated Bishop of Sandhurst. White chrysanthemums decorated the high altar of the Sacred Heart Cathedral before which the consecration took place, the ceremony being opened by a procession of clergy numbering in all about 200. The consecration ceremony was performed by Archbishop Manni, assisted by the Bishop of Ballarat (Dr. D. Foley) and the Bishop of Rockhampton (Dr. Shiel).

Bishop McCarthy was one of the most renowned figures in the Roman Catholic Church in Australia.

Born in County Clare, Ireland, on November 1, 1858, he studied first at Ballyvaughan and later at the Irish College, in Paris.

He was ordained in 1882 and began a service to the Roman Catholic Church which was to take him across the world and last for 67 years.

Bishop McCarthy arrived in Melbourne in 1890 and served in the Woodend and St Kilda parishes before becoming private secretary to Archbishop Carr.

in 1950, The Bishop of Sandhurst at the grand age of 91, Dr. John McCarthy, died at the Bishop's  House, St Kilian's, Bendigo ending a 33 year reign as Bishop.