Herbert Bevard

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Herbert Armstrong Bevard
Bishop Emeritus of Saint Thomas
ArchdioceseWashington
DioceseSaint Thomas
AppointedJuly 7, 2008
InstalledSeptember 3, 2008
RetiredSeptember 18, 2020
PredecessorGeorge Murry
SuccessorJerome Feudjio
Orders
OrdinationMay 20, 1972
by John Krol
ConsecrationSeptember 3, 2008
by Donald Wuerl, Joseph Edward Kurtz, and Daniel Edward Thomas
Personal details
Born (1946-02-24) February 24, 1946 (age 78)
Baltimore, Maryland
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
MottoSub tuum praesidium
(Beneath thy protection)
Styles of
Herbert Armstrong Bevard
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Herbert Armstrong Bevard (born February 24, 1946) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands from 2008 until 2020.

Biography

Early life

Herbert Bevard was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 24, 1946. He converted from Presbyterianism to Catholicism in 1964, when he was a high school senior.[1] After deciding to become a priest, Bevard entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.[2]

Bevard was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal John Krol for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia in 1972.[1] Bevard was created as monsignor in 2003 and was stationed in Philadelphia as episcopal vicar for the city's northern half.[2]

Bishop of Saint Thomas

Bevard was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands on July 7, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI. Bevard was consecrated on September 3 2008 in Charlotte Amelie at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul by Archbishop Donald Wuerl. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Joseph Kurtz and Bishop Daniel Edward Thomas.[1]

Bevard was instrumental in raising funds for the restoration of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. In trips to the Continental United States, he worked to raise money for schools and charities within the diocese. After the two hurricanes hit the Virgin Islands in 2017, Bevard allowed the conversion of a diocesan retreat center on St. Croix into a homeless shelter.[3]

On July 6, 2020, aware of his deteriorating health, Bevard sent a letter of resignation as bishop of Saint Thomas to Pope Francis. Soon after that, Bevard was hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center in Charlotte Amalie. In mid-August 2020, he was airlifted to a hospital in North Carolina for advanced treatment.

Pope Francis accepted Bevard's resignation on September 18, 2020, and appointed Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington to temporarily run the diocese as apostolic administrator.[4][2][5]

Bevard currently resides in Wilmington, North Carolina.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bishop Herbert Armstrong Bevard [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Bevard of Virgin Islands". Catholic Philly. September 18, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Retired V.I. Bishop Leaves Rich Legacy | St. Thomas Source". stthomassource.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Catholic News Agency (September 18, 2020). "Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Bevard of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands". Crux. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  5. ^ Staff, SUZANNE CARLSON Daily News. "Bishop Bevard retires citing health, age". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Fewel, John Matthew (November 2020). "A Reflection on Bishop Herbert Armstong Bevard's Twelve Years of Spiritual Leadership of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands" (PDF). Catholic Islander. Retrieved December 27, 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Saint Thomas
2008–2020 		Succeeded by


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