James Augustine Healy

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Augustine Healy

James Augustine Healy (born April 6, 1830 in Macon , Georgia , United States , † August 5, 1900 ) was a Roman Catholic clergyman and Bishop of Portland . He was the first colored bishop in the United States.

Life

James Augustine Healy was born to an Irish immigrant who rose to become a wealthy plantation owner in Georgia. His mother, a mulatto woman, was still a slave. He first attended schools in northern states and then the newly founded College of the Holy Cross in Worcester . After choosing the priesthood , he continued his studies in Montreal and Paris. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston on June 10, 1854 in the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral .

In Boston he was first pastor at the Guardian Angel House and later Chancellor of the Diocesan Curia and pastor at St. James Church. During this time he was already known for his commitment to civil rights and as an advocate for those who could not stand up for their rights themselves.

Pope Pius IX appointed him Bishop of Portland on February 12, 1875 . The Archbishop of Boston, John Joseph Williams , ordained him episcopal on June 2 of the same year ; Co- consecrators were the Coadjutor Bishop of Albany , Francis McNeirny , and the Bishop of Springfield , Patrick Thomas O'Reilly .

Through his background and his language skills, Healy was able to promote the integration of the large number of Irish immigrants as well as French-speaking Catholics in Acadia . A number of new parishes and church buildings were built during his tenure. The social priorities included the founding of the Vincentian Conference and the purchase of land for the recreation of orphans. He arranged for the Calvary Catholic Cemetery to be enlarged, where he was buried.

Web links

Commons : James Augustine Healy  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Most Rev. James A. Healy, DD Second Bishop of Portland. In: Homepage. Diocese of Portland , accessed July 20, 2015 .
predecessor Office successor
David William Bacon Bishop of Portland
1875–1900 		William Henry O'Connell
personal data
SURNAME Healy, James Augustine
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Healy, James A.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American clergyman, Bishop of Portland
DATE OF BIRTH April 6, 1830
PLACE OF BIRTH Macon , Georgia , USA
DATE OF DEATH 5th August 1900