Edmund Gibbons

Edmund Francis Gibbons (September 16, 1868 – June 19, 1964) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Albany from 1919 to 1954.

Biography

Edmund Gibbons was born in White Plains, New York, to James and Joanna (née Ray) Gibbons, who were Irish immigrants.^[1] His father was a laborer who helped build the New York State Capitol.^[2] After graduating from Niagara University in 1887, he studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome from 1887 to 1893.^[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1893.^[3] He then served as secretary to Bishop Stephen V. Ryan (1893-1896), superintendent of Catholic schools in the Buffalo Diocese (1900-1916), and pastor of St. Vincent's Church in Attica (1904-1915).^[1] He was pastor of St. Teresa's Church in Buffalo from 1916 to 1919.^[1]

On March 10, 1919, Gibbons was appointed the sixth Bishop of Albany by Pope Benedict XV.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 25 from Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano, with Bishops John Grimes and Thomas Walsh serving as co-consecrators.^[3] He guided the diocese through the Great Depression and World War II, and oversaw a great increase in religious vocations and parishes.^[2] He also established The College of Saint Rose, Siena College, Mater Christi Seminary, 22 high schools, 82 grade schools, and the diocesan newspaper, The Evangelist.^[2]

After thirty-five years as bishop, Gibbons resigned on November 10, 1954; he was named Titular Bishop of Verbe on the same date.^[3] He later died at age 95.

References

Episcopal succession