Joseph Howard Hodges

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Joseph Howard Hodges (October 8, 1911 – January 27, 1985) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston from 1962 until his death in 1985.

Biography

Joseph Hodges was born in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to Joseph Howard and Edna Belle (née Hendricks) Hodges.[1] He and his family later moved to Martinsburg, where he attended St. Joseph's High School.[2] After graduating from St. Joseph's in 1928, he studied St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland (1928-1930).[1] He was then sent to further his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on December 8, 1935.[3] Following his return to the United States, he was attached to the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, and served as a curate at Sacred Heart Church in Danville.[1] He served at St. Andrew's Church in Roanoke (1939-1945) before becoming director of the diocesan mission band.[1] He was named pastor of St. Peter's Church in Richmond in 1955.[1]

On August 8, 1952, Hodges was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Richmond and Titular Bishop of Rusadus by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 15 from Bishop Peter Leo Ireton, with Bishops Vincent Stanislaus Waters and John Francis Dearden serving as co-consecrators.[3] In addition to his episcopal duties, he continued to served as pastor of St. Peter's Church.[2] Returning to his native West Virginia, he was named Coadjutor Bishop of Wheeling on May 31, 1961.[3] Upon the death of Archbishop John Joseph Swint, Hodges succeeded him as the fifth Bishop of Wheeling on November 23, 1962.[3]

Hodges attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965.[2] He dedicated much of his administration to implementing the reforms of the Council in the diocese, establishing a Liturgical Commission, Priests' Senate, Sisters' Council, and Cursillo movement.[4] A strong supporter of ecumenism, he established a Commission for Religious Unity in 1964, co-founded the Joint Commission of Roman Catholics and Episcopalians in 1978 with the Episcopal Bishop of West Virginia, and joined the West Virginia Council of Churches in 1981.[4] He mandated parish councils in 1968, introduced extraordinary ministers in 1970 and permanent deacons in 1975, and renovated the exterior and interior of St. Joseph's Cathedral in 1973.[4]

The diocese was renamed as the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston on August 21, 1974.[5] In 1976 he established the Diocesan Pro-Life Office and led a public protest against the opening of a Wheeling abortion clinic.[4] Hodges was also known as a social reformer, using his office to challenge the social, economic, and political injustices in Appalachia.[2] He publicly supported the civil rights movement, urged local parishes to begin social outreach programs, and established such social ministry programs as soup kitchens and elderly-assistance programs.[2] He also served as chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Campaign for Human Development.[6]

Hodges died from lung cancer at Wheeling Hospital, aged 73.[6] He is buried at Mount Calvary Chapel in Wheeling.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "The Most Reverend Joseph Howard Hodges". Wheeling Jesuit University. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Bishop Joseph Howard Hodges". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Vatican II and the Diocese: Bishop Joseph H. Hodges, 1962-1985". Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. 
  5. ↑ "Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Bishop Joseph Hodges Dies; Led Diocese in West Virginia". The New York Times. 1985-01-28. 
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
John Joseph Swint		 Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston
1962—1985 		Succeeded by
Francis B. Schulte
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