John Jeremiah Lawler
Most Rev. John J. Lawler | |
---|---|
Bishop of Rapid City | |
![]() The coat of arms of Bishop Lawler as Bishop of Lead | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
See | Rapid City (formerly Lead) |
In office | Jan. 29, 1916 – Mar. 11, 1948 |
Predecessor | Joseph Francis Busch |
Successor | William Tibertus McCarty, C.SS.R. |
Orders | |
Ordination | December 19, 1885 |
Personal details | |
Born | August 4, 1862 Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | March 11, 1948 Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. | (aged 85)
John Jeremiah Lawler (August 4, 1862 – March 11, 1948) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rapid City from 1916 until his death in 1948.
Biography[]
Lawler was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and attended St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He continued his studies in Belgium, studying philosophy at the College of St. Nicholas in Flanders and theology at the University of Louvain.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood at Louvain on December 19, 1885.[3]
Following his return to Minnesota, Lawler served as professor of Scripture at the College of St. Thomas and later pastor of St. Luke's Church in St. Paul.[2] He also served as rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul.[1] As rector, he was instrumental in the erection of the cathedral at a cost of $5 million.[2]
On February 8, 1910, Lawler was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and titular bishop of Hermopolis Maior by Pope Pius X.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 19 from Archbishop John Ireland, with Bishops James McGolrick and James Trobec serving as co-consecrators.[3] As an auxiliary bishop, he assisted Archbishop Ireland for six years.
Lawler was appointed the third Bishop of Lead, South Dakota, by Pope Benedict XV on January 29, 1916.[3] On August 1, 1930, the episcopal see of the diocese was changed from Lead to Rapid City, and the name of the diocese was changed accordingly.[4] In 1947, Lawler, who had been in failing health, received Bishop William Tibertus McCarty as his coadjutor bishop.[2]
Lawler died following a stroke at age 85.[2] At the time of his death, he was the oldest Catholic bishop in the United States and, after Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick, was the second most senior in years of service.[2]
Notes[]
- ^ a b O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922. Washington, D.C.
- ^ a b c d e f "BISHOP J.J. LAWLER OF RAPID CITY, S.D.; Head of Diocese Transferred There in 1930 Dies at 85—Ex-Auxiliary in St. Paul". The New York Times. 1948-03-12.
- ^ a b c d "Bishop John Jeremiah Lawler". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ "Diocese of Rapid City". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- 1862 births
- 1948 deaths
- University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) faculty
- St. Francis Seminary (Wisconsin) alumni
- People from Rochester, Minnesota
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Roman Catholic bishops of Lead
- Roman Catholic bishops of Rapid City
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Religious leaders from Minnesota
- Catholics from Minnesota
- Catholics from South Dakota