Joseph Michael Gilmore (March 23, 1893—April 2, 1962) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Helena from 1936 until his death in 1962.
Joseph Gilmore was born in New York City to John Joseph and Mary Teresa (née Hanrahan) Gilmore.[1] He and his family moved to Anaconda, Montana, in 1898.[2] He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911.[1] He continued his studies at the Urban College of Propaganda in Rome, earning a Doctor of Sacred Theology in 1915. While in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 25, 1915.[3] Following his return to Montana, he served as a professor at Carroll College until 1920, when he became pastor of St. Teresa's Church in Whitehall.[1] He served as pastor of St. Helena's Church in Butte from 1925 to 1927, and chancellor of the Diocese of Helena from 1927 to 1936.
On December 9, 1935, Gilmore was appointed the fifth Bishop of Helena by Pope Pius XI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on February 19, 1936 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edwin Vincent O'Hara and Joseph Francis McGrath serving as co-consecrators. During his 26-year-long tenure, he presided over a period of great growth for the diocese. In addition to the material development, programs were developed to foster vocations, help resettle refugees, retrain unskilled workers, aid in adoptions, promote the lay apostolate.[2] He was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne in 1959.[1]
At age 69, Gilmore died unexpectedly in San Francisco, California, while attending the installation of Archbishop Joseph Thomas McGucken.[2]
| Preceded by Ralph Leo Hayes |
Bishop of Helena 1936—1962 |
Succeeded by Raymond Gerhardt Hunthausen |