In Seattle, young Cornelius Power attended Beacon Hill public school from 1919 to 1923, next studying at St. Mary Parochial School from 1923 until 1927.  He took his freshman year at O'Dea (diocesan) High School, 1927-28, and then studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph College (preparatory seminary) in Mountain View, California, 1928-33, St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California 1933-35; and St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, Washington, 1935-39.

        On June 3, 1939, Father Power was ordained in St. James Cathedral, Seattle, by Bishop Gerald Shaughnessy, S.M., for service in the Diocese of Seattle.  Father Power's first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. James Cathedral, July 9, 1939, to September 20, 1940.  However, he was then sent by Bishop Shaughnessy to study Canon Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  He was there from September 24, 1940, to June 2, 1943.  From 1943 until 1952, Father Power was resident chaplain at Holy Names Academy (a 12-year day and boarding school for girls) in Seattle.  He was next resident at the Cathedral from 1952 to 1955, until he was made first the administrator of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Seattle (1955-56), and then its pastor (1956 to 1969).  During these 26 years, Father Power also served his Archdiocese in the Seattle Chancery on special assignments.  Among these were: Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith 1943-45; Vice-Chancellor 1943-51; Chancellor 1951-69; Pro-Synodal Judge, Matrimonial Court 1943-69; and Secretary, Matrimonial Tribunal 1943-64.  Father Power was named a domestic prelate (monsignor) on January 12, 1963, by Pope John XXIII, and on February 5, 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed him the second Bishop of Yakima, Washington.  He was ordained a bishop on May 1, 1969, in St. James Cathedral, Seattle. Archbishop Thomas Connolly was the principal consecrator.

        Bishop Power was next promoted to the See of Portland in Oregon, and was installed as seventh Archbishop of Portland in Oregon in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on April 17, 1974, by the Most Reverend Jean Jadot, D.D., Apostolic Delegate to the United States.

During his twelve busy years as head of this Archdiocese, Archbishop Power accomplished many things.  One of the most fundamental was his help in the formation of a five-year plan for the Archdiocese.  He also established an endowment fund to ensure financial stability for the Archdiocese.  At the chancery level, he reorganized various chancery offices into vicariates, and established an Office of Ministries and the Family Life Office.  He canonically created the Vicariate of San Salvador for ministry to the Spanish-speaking and formed the Vicariate for Southeast Asians.

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        Archbishop Power reorganized Catholic Charities as well as the Catholic Truth Society of Oregon, which was renamed the Oregon Catholic Press.  In addition, he began an annual clergy convention, founded the Oregon Catholic Conference, and held the first Archdiocesan Pastoral Convention (1985).

        Setting another precedent within the history of the Archdiocese, the Holy Father appointed  two auxiliary bishops.  On December 6, 1977, Pope Paul VI named Bishop Paul E. Waldschmidt, C.S.C., and Bishop Kenneth D. Steiner.  They were ordained Bishops by Archbishop Power on March 2, 1978 in St. Mary's Cathedral.

        On July 3, 1986, Archbishop Power, having received the approval of Pope John Paul II,
announced his retirement to the public and to his staff.  Archbishop Power spent his retirement in Portland.  He was active in giving retreats, days of prayer and helping out in parishes.  Archbishop Power died peacefully on May 22, 1997.  He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery.