Edward D. Head

Bishop Edward Head at University of Buffalo, 1992

Edward D. Head (August 5, 1919 – March 29, 2005) was the 11th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York in 1973–1995.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Early life[]

Head was born in White Plains, New York,^[1][2] and was raised in the South Bronx.^[2] His parents were Charles and Nellie, immigrants from England and Ireland, respectively.^[2] Head had two brothers, Charles and Daniel.^[2]

Education[]

Both Head and his brothers solely attended Catholic parochial schools to receive their educations.^[2] Head earned a mathematics degree from Columbia University^[2] prior to entering St. Joseph's Seminary at Dunwoodie in 1939.^[2] Through his studies at St. Joseph's Seminary, he was later ordained a priest in 1945.^[2] During his time in ministry at the Archdiocese of New York, Head earned a master's degree from the New York School of Social Work in 1948.^[2]

Ministry[]

Head was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York on January 27, 1945^[1][2][4] by Cardinal Francis Spellman in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York City.^[2]

Head served in many capacities, including as an educator, prior to being appointed auxiliary bishop.^[2] Head taught sociology at Notre Dame College on Staten Island^[2] before serving as assistant pastor at both Sacred Heart Church in the Bronx and St. Roch's Church on Staten Island.^[2]

In September 1947, Head became a staff member of the Archdiocese of New York Catholic Charities Family Service Department.^[2] He was an assistant pastor at St. Veronica's Church in Greenwich Village, New York City for 17 years while he worked at Catholic Charities.^[2]

Head was named associate director of Family Services in March 1948,^[2] serving in that capacity until he became director of social research for Catholic Charities in 1956.^[2]

In 1964, Head went to minister at St. Monica's Church in Manhattan;^[2] and became a parochial assistant at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1967.^[2]

On October 15, 1966, Head was appointed executive director and secretary of Catholic Charities by Cardinal Terence Cooke.^[2] In these capacities in the organization, Head oversaw nearly 1,000 employees,^[2] and administrated an annual budget of millions of dollars.^[2]

Episcopal career[]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York[]

On March 19, 1970, Head was consecrated an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York.^[1][2][3] He was also the Titular Bishop of Ard Sratha.^[1] Head served, among other assignments, as executive director of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New York.^[2]

Bishop of Buffalo[]

On January 23, 1973, Head was named as the 11th Bishop of Buffalo by Pope Paul VI;^[2] and he was installed on March 19, 1973.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Fundraising for Catholic Charities increased by an extreme degree under Head's leadership in the Diocese,^[2] including the year of his retirement.^[2]

Head was involved in many activities as Bishop of Buffalo.^[3] Under his leadership, many institutes and offices were created in the Diocese.^[3] Many of these endeavors include the Religious Education Coordinators Council; the Priests' Retirement Board; the Center for Church Vocations; the Western New York Catholic Hospital Health Care Council; the Peace and Justice Commission; the Office of Vicar for Religious; and the Permanent Diaconate Program.^[3]

Additional efforts included the Office of Vicar for Campus Ministry; the Organist Enrichment Program; the Diocesan Marian Commission; the Office of Vicar for the Central City; Daybreak Productions; the Catholic Charities Parish Outreach Program; the Little Portion Friary; the Pope John Paul II Residence; the Agenda for the 80's; the Diocesan Radio Studio; and the Lay Ministry Advisory Board.^[3]

Further endeavors created and/or supervised by Head included the consolidation of the Catholic Education Department; the Renew Program; the Office of Church Ministry; the relocation and consolidation of Diocesan Offices in the Catholic Center; the Office of Black Ministry; the Hispanic Apostolate; the Commission on Women in the Church and Society; the Department of Pro-Life Activities; the New Visions Commission for Pastoral Planning; the reorganization of 10 Central City parishes; and others.^[3]

In 1995, upon celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Head reflected on his appointment as Bishop of Buffalo.^[4]

Head is re-quoted in a WBFO article by Eileen Buckley, as well as on a page announcing his death on the Diocese of Buffalo website, in regard to his appointment as Bishop of Buffalo by Pope Paul VI, stating:

In 1973, Pope Paul, VI, could have sent this church of Buffalo a wiser bishop, a holier bishop, a bishop more astute in administration, or a bishop more gifted in public speaking. But, I don't think Pope Paul could have sent the Diocese a bishop who had tried harder to love you and to serve you.^[2][4]

Head ordained 124 men to the priesthood during his time as Bishop of Buffalo.^[2] It has been estimated that Head confirmed 50,000 young people to the Roman Catholic Church during his 22 years of service in Buffalo.^[2][8]

Honors[]

Pope John XXIII honored Head in July 1962 by naming him a papal chamberlain.^[2] In May 1966, Head was given the title of domestic prelate by Pope Paul VI.^[2] Prior to his death, Head was honored with a retirement home for priests that was named for him, the Bishop Edward D. Head Residence, in Lackawanna, New York.^[2]

Retirement and later life[]

Pope John Paul II accepted Head's petition to retire in April 1995.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} Church law required him to retire at age 75;^[4] and he was named Bishop Emeritus.^[1] Even though he was retired, he continued to play an active role^[5] in the Diocese of Buffalo throughout the 1990s and into early part of the next decade.^[3] He continued to be active in health care ministry, and other ministries throughout his retirement.^[2] Head died on March 29, 2005 in Kenmore, New York, at the age of 85.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Upon Head's sudden death, Bishop Edward Kmiec was quoted in a March 30, 2005 Buffalo News article:

This is a day of tremendous sadness for the family of the Diocese of Buffalo. Bishop Head had a tremendous impact on the faith lives of Catholics in the eight counties of Western New York.^[7]

Head's body is buried in the crypt of St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.^[3][8] He is the first Bishop of Buffalo to have retired in Buffalo.^[4]

References[]

External links[]

• Bishop Head Dies