Edward William O'Rourke facts for kids

Edward William O'Rourke (born October 31, 1917 – died September 29, 1999) was an American leader in the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois. He held this important role from 1971 to 1990.

Life Story of Bishop O'Rourke

Early Years and Calling

Edward O'Rourke was born on October 31, 1917, in Downs, Illinois. He was one of eleven children in his family. After his confirmation in 1930, he decided he wanted to become a priest. He later said he never doubted this was what he was meant to do. He went to Downs High School and St. Henry College. Then, he studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Illinois.

Becoming a Priest

Edward O'Rourke became a priest on May 28, 1944. Bishop Joseph H. Schlarman performed the ordination. For many years, he worked as an assistant chaplain at the Newman Centre at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also helped hundreds of people who were escaping Communist countries in Eastern Europe. He found them homes and jobs.

From 1960 to 1971, O'Rourke was the leader of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. In this role, he helped create many programs to help people in rural areas. These included economic development groups and self-help programs. He traveled a lot, visiting 19 countries in one year, to share his experiences.

Serving as Bishop of Peoria

On May 24, 1971, Pope Paul VI chose O'Rourke to be the bishop of the Diocese of Peoria. He officially became a bishop on July 15, 1971. Cardinal John Cody led the special ceremony. Soon after, Bishop O'Rourke sold the large bishop's house. He moved into a smaller home near St. Mary's Cathedral. He gave the money from the sale to a fund for retired priests.

In 1974, he started the first Diocesan Pastoral Council. This group helped guide the diocese. He also changed how the diocese was organized, creating fifteen smaller areas called vicariates. In 1976, he ordained the first permanent deacons for the diocese.

A Plane Hijacking

In 1976, Bishop O'Rourke was on a plane flying from New York City to Chicago. The plane was hijacked by a group of Croatian separatists. He was given a chance to leave the plane, but he chose to stay. He led the passengers in prayer and tried to convince the hijackers to give up.

Later Years and Retirement

During his time as bishop, O'Rourke started programs like the Annual Stewardship Appeal. He also began the Teens Encounter Christ program for young people. He oversaw the combining of several Catholic schools.

Bishop O'Rourke had some health challenges. He had hip surgery and a stroke in 1985. He also needed a pacemaker.

On January 22, 1990, Pope John Paul II accepted Bishop O'Rourke's resignation. This meant he retired from his role as bishop. After retiring, he started an organization called Renaissance Stand. This group helped people who had been unemployed for a long time find jobs and get training.

Edward O'Rourke passed away in Peoria on September 29, 1999, at the age of 81. He is buried in the Bishop's Mausoleum in Peoria.

Bishop O'Rourke's Beliefs

Helping Those in Need

Bishop O'Rourke strongly believed in helping people help themselves. He thought that self-help projects were better than just giving handouts. He also preferred help from non-government groups. He felt that government aid could change or stop if political leaders changed.

Supporting Rural Life

Bishop O'Rourke cared deeply about rural communities and family farms. In 1960, he said that changing from family farms to large "general farms" would be very sad. He believed family farms were good for families, religion, and democracy.

In 1967, he spoke out against large-scale industrial agriculture. He said it ignored the spiritual and social values of rural life. He believed it could force many rural families to leave their homes. He felt that the values of farm families should be most important when making decisions about agriculture.