Francis Ridgley Cotton

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Francis Ridgley Cotton

O.P
Bishop of Owensboro
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Owensboro
In officeFebruary 24, 1938 to
September 25, 1960
SuccessorHenry Joseph Soenneker
Orders
OrdinationJune 17, 1920
by John T. McNicholas
ConsecrationFebruary 24, 1938
by John A. Floersh
Personal details
Born(1895-09-19)September 19, 1895
Bardstown, Kentucky, US
DiedSeptember 25, 1960(1960-09-25) (aged 65)
Owensboro, Kentucky, US
EducationSt. Meinrad Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary
Catholic University of America
Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare

Francis Ridgley Cotton O.P. (September 19, 1895—September 25, 1960) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Owensboro in Kentucky from 1938 to 1960.

Biography

Early life

One of three children, Francis Cotton was born in Bardstown, Kentucky to Charles and Mary (née Moore) Cotton.[1] After attending St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana, he enrolled in St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] Cotton then went in 1919 to Washington D.C. to enter the Sulpician Seminary at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., finishing there in 1920.[1]

Priesthood

Cotton was ordained to the priesthood for the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) by Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas on June 17, 1920.[2] After his ordination, Cotton completed his graduate studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum S. Apollinare in Rome.[1] Following his return to Kentucky, he served as a curate at St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral Parish in Bardstown, St. Cecilia Parish in Louisville, Kentucky, and at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah, Kentucky (1922–1926).[1] Cotton was appointed assistant chancellor in 1926, then chancellor in 1931.[1][3]

Bishop of Owensboro

On December 16, 1937, Cotton was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Owensboro by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on February 24, 1938, from Archbishop John A. Floersh, with Bishops Theodore H. Reverman and Moses E. Kiley serving as co-consecrators.[2][3] After his consecration, Cotton embarked on visits to the parishes in the new diocese. He brought the Catholic Students' Mission Crusade, a national organization for helping the poor, to the diocese.[4]

In early 1940, Cotton began the collection of relief supplies for refugees from World War II in Europe. By 1942, the diocese had collected over $1 million in supplies for distribution in Europe and China.[4] In February 1943, Cotton held a synod in the diocese to set its laws and constitution. Contemporary reports said that Cotton strictly enforced these rules in the diocese, but personally was a kind individual.[4]

Francis Cotton died of a heart attack in Owensboro on September 25, 1965, at age 65.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bishop Francis Ridgley Cotton". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ a b c "BISHOP F.R. COTTON DIES; [ Head of Catholic Diocese at I Owensboro, Ky., Was 65". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  4. ^ a b c Publishing, Turner (February 1994). The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky. Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-56311-129-7.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
none
 Bishop of Owensboro
1937—1960 		Succeeded by


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