Robert John Armstrong
Most Reverend Robert J. Armstrong, D.D. | |
---|---|
Bishop of Sacramento | |
Church | Catholic Church |
See | Sacramento |
In office | January 4, 1929 – January 14, 1957 |
Predecessor | Patrick Joseph James Keane |
Successor | Joseph Thomas McGucken |
Orders | |
Ordination | December 10, 1910 |
Consecration | March 12, 1929 |
Personal details | |
Born | San Francisco, California | November 17, 1884
Died | January 14, 1957 Sacramento, California | (aged 72)
Robert John Armstrong, (November 17, 1884 – January 14, 1957) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento[1] (which encompassed 36 Northern California counties) and was its longest serving ordinary. [2][better source needed]
Bishop Armstrong served during the Great Depression, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He gave the benediction at the inauguration of Governor Frank Merriam, who was a former "farm boy".[3]
Biography[]
Early life, ordination and ministry[]
Robert Armstrong was born in San Francisco, California, and later moved with his family to the state of Washington. He studied at Gonzaga University, graduating in 1904,[4] and the Grand séminaire in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Seattle on December 10, 1910.[5] He served as a curate in Spokane and was pastor of St. Paul's Church in Yakima, Washington from 1914-1929.[6]
Armstrong would later be transferred to the Diocese of Spokane where he eventually became the assistant pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral.[7] He was "inducted into the order" of the Knights of Columbus and became a chaplain of the order.[7] Armstrong spent 15 years in Yakima and was known as "Father Bob" and "Bishop Bob".[7]
Bishop of Sacramento, California[]
On January 4, 1929 Pope Pius XI named Father Armstrong the fourth bishop of the diocese located in Sacramento, California.[2][8] He was consecrated a bishop on March 12, 1929 by Bishop Edward John O'Dea of Seattle. The co-consecrators were Bishops Mathias Lenihan of Great Falls and Joseph McGrath of Baker City.[5]
During the week of August 2, 1930, Captain Michael Riordan and Armstrong hosted a lay retreat for men from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Sacramento Valley region at a Jesuit retreat center near Los Altos, California.[9]
On Aug 29, 1932, Armstrong gave a short address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.[10]
On January 8, 1935, Armstrong gave the benediction at the inauguration of Governor Frank Merriam, who was a "farm boy".[3]
On December 13, 1936, Armstrong travelled to Sacred Heart Church in Gridley, California to establish a men's Holy Name Society.[11] The bishop preached that its purpose was for "each man to labor for the glory of God's name."[11]
On April 8, 1940, Armstrong was the concluding speaker at a three-day Catholic Confraternity of Christian Doctrine convention in Portland, Oregon.[12] He postulated that religion "cannot enter our public schools and pupils think it of little importance when it cannot be taught as other subjects."[12]
Armstrong led his ecclesial community through the Great Depression and World War II while becoming known for his casual and approachable manner.[13] He became involved in government and legislative issues that affected Catholics. He institutionalized social work within the see and upgraded its Catholic school system.[14] After these turbulent periods, Sacramento’s population doubled in 20 years. By 1957 there were 209,281 Catholics in the diocese, a 255% increase from 1940.[13] Armstrong established over 28 new parishes.
Later life and death[]
On April 14, 1942, Armstrong returned to Spokane to celebrate a pontifical requiem Mass for his mother, Margaret Armstrong, who died at age 80.[15] She was a member of the St. Aloysius altar society.[15]
Armstrong's health declined in 1954. On October 26, 1955 Pope Pius XII named Bishop Joseph Thomas McGucken, an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, as Coadjutor Bishop with the right of succession.[16] Armstrong died in January 1957.[1] At his death, the diocese encompassed 36 Northern California counties.[1]
See also[]
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of the Catholic bishops of the United States
Sources[]
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- "Diocese of Sacramento". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church Retrieved 2010-05-20.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bishop Dies". Florence Times. January 16, 1957. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Diocese of Sacramento". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Former Farm Boy Becomes Governor". Berkeley Daily Gazette. January 8, 1935. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ "242 Graduated From Gonzaga". Spokesman-Review. May 25, 1954. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bishop Robert John Armstrong". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ Delaney, John J, Tobin, James Edward (1961). Dictionary of Catholic Biography. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Friends Honor Newest Bishop". Spokesman-Review. March 14, 1929. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ "Bishop Is Named For Sacramento At Rome". San Jose News. January 9, 1929. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ "Religious Retreat Of Hibernians At Los Altos Is Held". San Jose Evening News. August 2, 1930.
- ^ "Foreign War Vets Throng Sacramento". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Aug 29, 1932. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Men Of Sacred Heart Form Society". Lyon County Reporter. December 15, 1936. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Religion Basis Of Society, Says Catholic Speaker". Ellensburg Daily Record. April 8, 1940. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b The Diocese of Sacramento enjoys a rich history… Archived 2008-01-31 at the Wayback Machine www.diocese-sacramento.org
- ^ Lineage of Bishops Archived 2010-09-21 at the Wayback Machine www.diocese-sacramento.org
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Son Will Say Mass for Pioneer Matron". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Apr 13, 1942. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ "Bishop Named To Sacramento". Lodi News-Sentinel. October 27, 1957. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
Episcopal succession[]
- 1884 births
- 1957 deaths
- People from San Francisco
- Gonzaga University alumni
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane
- Roman Catholic bishops of Sacramento
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Religious leaders from Washington (state)