Edmund Gibbons
American prelate
Edmund Gibbons
In office 1919-1954 Ordination May 27, 1893 Consecration March 25, 1919 by Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano Born (1868-09-16 ) September 16, 1868White Plains, New York
Died June 19, 1964(1964-06-19) (aged 95) Nationality American Denomination Roman Catholic Parents James and Joanna (née Ray) Gibbons Education Pontifical North American College Alma mater Niagara University
Edmund Francis Gibbons (September 16, 1868 – June 19, 1964) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church . He served as Bishop of Albany from 1919 to 1954.
Biography
Edmund Gibbons was born in White Plains , New York , to Irish immigrants James and Joanna (née Ray) Gibbons.[ 1] His father was a stonecutter who helped build the New York State Capitol .[ 2]
Gibbons attended The College and Seminary of Our Lady of Angels at Niagara, and continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome , where he was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1893.[ 2] He then served as secretary to Bishop Stephen V. Ryan (1893-1896), superintendent of Catholic schools in the Buffalo Diocese (1900-1916), and pastor of St. Vincent's Church in Attica (1904-1915). He was pastor of St. Teresa's Church in Buffalo from 1916 to 1919.[ 1]
On March 10, 1919, Gibbons was appointed the sixth Bishop of Albany by Pope Benedict XV . He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 25 from Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano , with Bishops John Grimes and Thomas Walsh serving as co-consecrators .[ 3] He guided the diocese through the Great Depression and World War II , and oversaw a great increase in religious vocations and parishes.[ 4] In 1934, he was chairman of the New York State Catholic Welfare Committee.[ 5]
He also established The College of Saint Rose , Siena College , Mater Christi Seminary, 22 high schools , 82 grade schools , and the diocesan newspaper , The Evangelist .[ 4]
On May 27, 1953, Bishop Gibbons celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination. As the oldest living bishop, he was dean of the American hierarchy.[ 6]
After thirty-five years as bishop, Gibbons retired on November 10, 1954 to a simple apartment in the Mater Christi seminary;[ 2] he was named Titular Bishop of Verbe on the same date. He died at age 95.
References
^ a b Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who . Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ a b c "Most Rev. E. F. Gibbons Dead; Oldest Catholic Bishop in U.S.", The New York Times , June 20, 1964
^ "Bishop Edmund Francis Gibbons" . Catholic-Hierarchy.org .
^ a b "A BRIEF HISTORY" . Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany . Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-09-17 .
^ Letter to Gov. Lehman in support of programs for undernourished children, July 16, 1934
^ "Bishop Edmund Gibbons Now Dean of Hierarchy", The St. Louis Register , Volume 13, Number 24, 12 June 1953
Episcopal succession
Ordinaries Churches Education
High schools
Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady
Saratoga Central Catholic High School, Saratoga Springs
Independent schools
Academy of the Holy Names
Christian Brothers Academy, Albany
La Salle Institute, Troy
Closed
Bishop Maginn High School, Albany
Cardinal McCloskey High School, Albany
Cathedral Academy, Albany
Holy Cross High School, Albany
Kenwood Academy, Albany
Marylrose Academy, Albany
Mercy High School, Albany
St. Ann's Academy, Albany
St. John's Academy, Albany
St. Joseph's Academy, Albany
St. Mary's High School, Albany
Vincentian Institute, Albany
Bishop Scully High School, Amsterdam
St. Joseph's High School, Amsterdam
St. Mary's High School, Amsterdam
St. Patrick's Academy, Catskill
Keveny Memorial Academy, Cohoes
St. Agnes High School, Cohoes
Commercial Academy of the Sacred Heart, Cohoes
Sacred Heart High School, Cohoes
St. Joseph's Academy, Cohoes
St. Patrick's Academy, Cohoes
St. Mary's Academy, Glens Falls
Bishop Burke High School, Gloversville
St. Mary's Academy, Hoosick Falls
St. Mary's Academy, Hudson
St. Mary's Academy, Little Falls
St. John's Academy, Rensselaer
Our Lady of the Star Academy, Saratoga Springs
Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady
Notre Dame High School, Schenectady
St. Adalbert's High School, Schenectady
St. Columba's Academy, Schenectady
St. John's Academy, Schenectady
St. Joseph's Academy, Schenectady
Catholic Central High School (Troy, New York)
St. Augustine's Academy, Troy
St. Joseph's Academy, Troy
St. Mary's Academy, Troy
St. Michael's Academy, Troy
St. Patrick's Academy, Troy
St. Peter's Academy, Troy
St. Bridgid's Academy, Watervliet
St. Patrick's Academy, Watervliet