Edward Braxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward Kenneth Braxton |
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| Bishop Emeritus of Belleville | |
Bishop Braxton in 2009
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| Diocese | Diocese of Belleville |
| Appointed | March 15, 2005 |
| Enthroned | June 22, 2005 |
| Predecessor | Wilton Daniel Gregory |
| Successor | Michael G. McGovern |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 13, 1970 |
| Consecration | May 17, 1995 by Justin F. Rigali, J. Terry Steib, and Paul A. Zipfel |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Edward Kenneth Braxton |
| Born | June 28, 1944 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Previous post |
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| Alma mater | St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (M.A., S.T.L.) Catholic University of Louvain (Ph.D., S.T.D.) University of Chicago Divinity School |
| Motto | Mane nobiscum domine (Stay with us, Lord) |
| Styles of Edward Kenneth Braxton |
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| Reference style |
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| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Edward Kenneth Braxton (born June 28, 1944) is an American Catholic leader. He served as the Bishop of Belleville from 2005 to 2020. Before that, Bishop Braxton was an auxiliary bishop in St. Louis and the Bishop of Lake Charles.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Edward Kenneth Braxton was born on June 28, 1944. His parents were Cullen L. Braxton Sr and Evelyn Braxton. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Braxton went to special schools to prepare for a life in the church. These included Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and Niles College Seminary in Chicago. He also studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.
He earned several degrees, including a Bachelor's and a Master's. He also received degrees in Sacred Theology. Before becoming a priest, he worked as a deacon for one year. This was at St. Raymond De Penafort Parish.
Becoming a Priest
On May 13, 1970, Edward Braxton became a priest. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal John Cody.
In 1973, Braxton continued his studies in Belgium. He attended the Catholic University of Louvain in Leuven. There, he earned advanced degrees in religious studies and theology. While in Belgium, he also helped out at US Armed Forces bases. He also served at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Brussels.
After returning to Chicago, Braxton worked at St. Felicitas Parish. He also did special research at the University of Chicago Divinity School. In 1976, he spent a year teaching at Harvard University Divinity School. During this time, he also helped at St. Paul’s Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The next year, he taught theology at the University of Notre Dame.
Working with Bishops
In 1978, Braxton became a special advisor for theology in the Diocese of Cleveland. He worked for Bishop James A. Hickey. When Bishop Hickey became the Archbishop of Washington in 1980, Braxton went with him. He became the Archbishop's special assistant for theological matters. He was one of the first priests to have this kind of full-time job with a bishop.
While in Washington, Braxton also helped at St. John the Baptist Parish. This church is in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1983, Braxton spent time as a visiting scholar in Rome. He was at the Pontifical North American College.
After returning to Chicago in 1983, Braxton led the Catholic Student Center at the University of Chicago. He worked there until 1986. In 1984, he was an expert advisor for a meeting of bishops in Africa. In 1985, he spoke at a large Catholic event in Nairobi, Kenya. His talk was about "The Eucharist and the Catholic Family."
Braxton has written many articles for different religious publications. These include Harvard Theological Review and Commonweal.
In 1986, Braxton became a theological consultant for a Catholic book publisher in New York City. While there, he also helped at St. Joseph's Parish in Greenwich Village. He also served at Notre Dame Parish near Columbia University.
In 1992, Braxton moved back to Illinois. He became the pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Oak Park.
Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis
On March 28, 1995, Pope John Paul II chose Braxton to be an auxiliary bishop. This means he would help the main bishop in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. He was also given the title of titular bishop of Macomades Rusticiana.
He officially became a bishop on May 17, 1995. The ceremony was led by Cardinal Justin Rigali. It took place at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Bishop of Lake Charles
On December 12, 2000, Bishop Braxton was appointed to lead the Diocese of Lake Charles in Louisiana. He officially took on this role on February 22, 2001.
Bishop of Belleville
In January 2005, the Bishop of Belleville, Wilton Gregory, moved to a new role. Pope John Paul II then appointed Braxton as the new bishop for the Diocese of Belleville. This happened on March 15, 2005.
Bishop Braxton was officially installed as bishop on June 22, 2005. The ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Belleville, Illinois. He was a member of several committees for the USCCB. These committees focused on education and human values.
During his time in Belleville, some priests expressed concerns about his leadership.
Retirement
On April 3, 2020, Pope Francis accepted Bishop Braxton's request to retire. The Pope then named Reverend Michael G. McGovern as the new bishop of Belleville.
Images for kids
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Bishop Braxton in 2009
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Coat of arms of Edward Kenneth Braxton
