Joseph Fiorenza

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza
Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston
See Galveston-Houston
Installed February 18, 1985
Term ended February 26, 2006
Predecessor John Louis Morkovsky
Successor Daniel DiNardo
Other posts Bishop of San Angelo (1979-1984)
Orders
Ordination May 29, 1954
Consecration October 25, 1979
Personal details
Born (1931-01-25) January 25, 1931
Beaumont, Texas
Styles of
Joseph Fiorenza
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style His Excellency
Religious style Monsignor
Posthumous style not applicable

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza (born January 25, 1931) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the seventh Bishop and the first Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving from 1985 to 2006. He previously served as Bishop of San Angelo from 1979 to 1984.

Early life and education

Joseph Fiorenza was born in Beaumont, Texas, the second of four sons of Anthony and Grace (née Galiano) Fiorenza.[1] His father immigrated from Sicily at age 10, while his mother was the daughter of Sicilian immigrants.[2] He attended St. Anthony High School in Beaumont, where he was football team captain and senior class president.[2] He skipped a grade and graduated from high school at age 16 in 1947.[3] He then studied at St. Mary's Seminary in La Porte.[4]

Priesthood

Fiorenza was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1954.[5] His first assignment was as assistant pastor of Queen of Peace Church in Houston, where he remained for three years.[3] In 1957, he became professor of medical ethics at Sacred Heart Dominican College and chaplain of St. Joseph Hospital in Houston.[3] He served as administrator of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral from 1959 to 1967.[1] In 1965, he participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches for African-American civil rights.[2]

Fiorenza served as pastor of St. Augustine Church (1967–69) and of St. Benedict the Abbot Church (1969–72), both in Houston.[1] From 1972 to 1973, he was both pastor of Assumption Church and vice-chancellor of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.[4] He was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness by Pope Paul VI on December 5, 1973, and served as diocesan chancellor from 1973 to 1979.[4]

Episcopacy

On September 4, 1979, Fiorenza was appointed the fourth Bishop of San Angelo by Pope John Paul II.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 25 from Archbishop Patrick Flores, with Bishops John Louis Morkovsky and John E. McCarthy serving as co-consecrators, at Sacred Heart Cathedral.[5]

On December 18, 1984, Fiorenza was named Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston by Pope John Paul II. He was installed as Bishop of Galveston-Houston by Archbishop Patrick Flores in the presence of Archbishop Pio Laghi, the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio. The Diocese of Galveston-Houston was elevated to the status of Archdiocese by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on Dec. 29, 2004, at which point Fiorenza became an Archbishop. During his tenure, Fiorenza worked diligently to protect the reputation of the Church in light of the negative publicity surrounding the sexual abuses of priests targeting minors in the Galveston-Houston Diocese by stonewalling investigation efforts.[6]

Archbishop Fiorenza submitted his letter of retirement to the Vatican in February 2006 at the customary age of 75 years. The response was received on February 28, 2006, officially granting Fiorenza his retirement and declaring former co-adjutor Archbishop Daniel DiNardo the presiding Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.[7]

Appointments and board memberships

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Curriculum Vitae". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
  2. 1 2 3 Holmes, Cecile S. (1998-11-14). "Strong leader, humble spirit - HOUSTON CATHOLIC BISHOP IN THE RUNNING FOR TOP DENOMINATIONAL POST". Houston Chronicle.
  3. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
  4. 1 2 3 Vara, Richard (2006-03-01). "'New era' for 1.3 million Catholics - Archbishop Fiorenza retires and asks region to embrace successor Daniel DiNardo". Houston Chronicle.
  5. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Joseph Anthony Fiorenza". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  6. Houston Press. August 17, 2006 Predators http://www.houstonpress.com/2006-08-17/news/parish-predators/title=Parish Predators Check |url= value (help). Retrieved July 18, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Texas Archbishop Resigns". KWTX-TV. February 28, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2010.

External links

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Archdiocese created
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
20042006
Succeeded by
Daniel DiNardo
Preceded by
John Louis Morkovsky
Bishop of Galveston-Houston
19842004
Succeeded by
Diocese elevated
Preceded by
Anthony Pilla
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
1998–2001
Succeeded by
Wilton Daniel Gregory
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