George W. Ahr
George W. Ahr | |
---|---|
Bishop of Trenton | |
In office | 1950–1979 |
Orders | |
Ordination | July 29, 1928 |
Consecration | March 20, 1951 by Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh |
Personal details | |
Born | Newark, New Jersey | June 23, 1904
Died | May 5, 1993 Morris Hall Home of the Aged | (aged 88)
Nationality | American |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Education | St. Ann's Grammar School |
Alma mater | St. Benedict's Preparatory School |
George William Ahr (June 23, 1904 – May 5, 1993) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Trenton from 1950 to 1979.
Biography[]
George Ahr was born in Newark, New Jersey, and attended St. Ann's Grammar School and St. Benedict's Preparatory School.[1] He then studied at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and, returning to New Jersey, at Seton Hall University in South Orange.[1] After completing his theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical North American College, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 29, 1928.[2] He later earned a doctorate in sacred theology in 1929.[1]
Following his return to the United States, Ahr did pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Newark, where he first served as a curate at St. Mary's Church in Jersey City.[1] He later served at St. Venantius Church in Orange until 1930, when he became a professor at Seton Hall Preparatory School.[1] He was named professor of dogmatic theology (1933) and later rector (1947) at Immaculate Conception Seminary.[1]
On January 28, 1950, Ahr was appointed the seventh Bishop of Trenton by Pope Pius XII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 20 from Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh, with Bishops Bartholomew J. Eustace and Thomas A. Boland serving as co-consecrators.[2] During his tenure, he increased the number of Catholics from 300,000 to 850,000, and founded 50 parishes and dedicated 100 new churches, 90 schools, and over 60 other buildings.[1] He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. He perceived a growing anti-clericalism in the United States,[3] and opposed the Christian Layman's Experimental Organization.[4]
After twenty-nine years as bishop, Ahr retired on June 23, 1979; he was the longest-serving bishop of Trenton.[2] He later died at Morris Hall Home of the Aged in Lawrenceville, aged 88.[1]
St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison was named in his honor from 1983 to 2019.
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituary". The New York Times. 1993-05-08.
- ^ a b c d "Bishop George William Ahr". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
- ^ "The Lowly Catholic Layman". TIME Magazine. 1962-08-17. Archived from the original on November 27, 2005.
- ^ "The Underground Church". TIME Magazine. 1967-09-29. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008.
- 1904 births
- 1993 deaths
- Saint Vincent College alumni
- Seton Hall University alumni
- Clergy from Newark, New Jersey
- Participants in the Second Vatican Council
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Roman Catholic bishops of Trenton