Augustus Maria Bernard Anthony John Gebhard Toebbe

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Augustus Maria Bernard Anthony John Gebhard Toebbe was the second bishop of Covington, Kentucky. Bishop Toebbe called the first diocesan synod and helped to further establish the new diocese.

[edit] Early Life and Priesthood

Augustus Toebbe was born in Meppen in modern-day Germany on January 15, 1829. He emigrated to the United States in 1852 to study to be a priest. Toebbe was accepted as a candidate for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and after two years of studies, was ordained a priest by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell on September 14, 1854. Father Toebbe served most of his priestly career at a German parish in Cincinnati. Father Toebbe was also a member of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1866.

[edit] Bishop of Covington

On November 24, 1869, over a year since Bishop Carrell's death, Father Toebbe was notified that he had been named the new bishop of Covington by the same man who had named his predecessor, Pope Pius IX. Toebbe was consecrated as bishop on January 9, 1870 by Bishop Sylvester Horton Rosencrans of Columbus, Ohio, the former auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati. Bishop Toebbe was responsible for bringing the Sisters of Notre Dame to the diocese, who still remain an important part of the diocesan operations. Bishop Toebbe also increased the number of parishes to fifty-five. After serving the diocese well, Bishop Toebbe died on May 2, 1884.