John Joseph Paul (August 17, 1918 – March 5, 2006) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as an auxiliary bishop and bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin from 1977 to 1994


John Joseph Paul
Bishop of La Crosse
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of La Crosse
PredecessorFrederick William Freking
SuccessorRaymond Leo Burke
Orders
OrdinationJanuary 24, 1943
by William Richard Griffin
ConsecrationAugust 4, 1977
Personal details
BornAugust 17, 1918
DiedMarch 5, 2006(2006-03-05) (aged 87)
La Crosse
EducationLoras College
Marquette University
Styles of
John Paul
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleYour Excellency
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Biography

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Early years

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John Paul was born on August 17, 1918, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Aquinas High School in La Crosse in 1935 and from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1939.

Ordination and ministry

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Paul was ordained to the priesthood on January 24, 1943 by Auxiliary Bishop William Griffin at St. Rose of Viterbo Convent in La Crosse, the motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. While stationed in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Paul help established Regis High School.[1]

In 1955, Paul became rector of Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse. On October 7, 1956, Pope Pius XII made Paul a monsignor. In 1956, Paul received a master's degree in education from Marquette University. In 1966, Paul became rector of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse.

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of La Crosse

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Paul was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of La Crosse on May 17, 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Paul was consecrated on August 4, 1977.[2]

On October 14, 1983, Paul was appointed bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse by Pope John Paul II, succeeding Bishop Frederick Freking. On December 5, 1983, he was installed as bishop. In 1986, Paul convened the fourth diocesan synod following the revised Canon Law of 1983; in 1987, the decrees of the fourth diocesan synod were published as: The Bishop With His People.[3] In 1992, Paul founded the Aquinas Middle School in La Crosse.

On December 10, 1994, Paul submitted his resignation as bishop of La Crosse to John Paul II; he was succeeded by Bishop Raymond Burke. John Paul died at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse on Marcy 5, 2006, at age 87.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Regis Granted Steel for New High School". The Daily Telegram. January 31, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Outpouring of Affection Flows to New Bishop Paul". The La Crosse Tribune. August 5, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ The Bishop With His People: Fourth Synod of the Diocese of La Crosse.
  4. ^ "bppaulobitfuneral.pdf" (PDF). Diocese of Lacrosse.

Further reading

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  • Landers, Ann. 'A Life In Letters: Ann Landers' letters to her only child, New York: Warner Brothers, 2003. (Landers refers to Paul, when both were living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.)
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of La Crosse
1983–1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of La Crosse
1977–1983
Succeeded by