Robert John Armstrong

Most Reverend Robert J. Armstrong, D.D.
Bishop of Sacramento
Bishop Robert Armstrong in black cassock with amaranth trim, pectoral cross and zuchetto
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	(1884-11-17)November 17, 1884 San Francisco, California
Died	January 14, 1957(1957-01-14) (aged 72) Sacramento, California

Robert John Armstrong, (November 17, 1884–January 14, 1957) was the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, which encompassed 36 Northern California counties,^[1] and its longest serving ordinary.^[2] He was a prelate during Great Depression, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Armstrong gave the benediction at the inauguration of Governor Frank Merriam, who was a former "farm boy".^[3]

Biography

Early life 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]

Episcopacy

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 Clement Lenihan of Great Falls and Joseph Francis McGrath of Baker City.^[9]

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.^[10]

On Aug 29, 1932, Armstrong gave a short address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.^[11]

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.^[12] The bishop preached that its purpose was for "each man to labor for the glory of God's name."^[12]

On April 8, 1940, Armstrong was the concluding speaker at a three day Catholic Confraternity of Christian Doctrine convention in Portland, Oregon.^[13] He postulated that religion "cannot enter our public schools and pupils think it of little importance when it cannot be taught as other subjects."^[13]

Armstrong led his ecclesial community through the Great Depression and World War II while becoming known for his casual and approachable manner.^[14] He became involved in government and legislative issues that affected Catholics. He institutionalized social work within the see and upgraded its Catholic school system.^[15] 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.^[14] 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.^[16] She was a member of the St. Aloysius altar society.^[16]

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.^[17] Armstrong died in January 1957.^[1] At his death, the diocese encompassed 36 Northern California counties.^[1]

Episcopal succession

Sources

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento Retrieved 2010-05-20.
• Diocese of Sacramento at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on 2010-05-20..

• The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church Retrieved 2010-05-20.

References