Odore Joseph Gendron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Odore Joseph Gendron |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Manchester | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Boston |
| Diocese | Manchester |
| Appointed | December 12, 1974 |
| Enthroned | February 3, 1975 |
| Reign ended | June 12, 1990 |
| Predecessor | Ernest John Primeau |
| Successor | Leo Edward O'Neil |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 31, 1947 |
| Consecration | February 3, 1975 by Ernest John Primeau, Edward Cornelius O'Leary, and Timothy Joseph Harrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 13, 1921 Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | October 16, 2020 (aged 99) |
| Motto | Unity and charity |
| Styles of Odore Joseph Gendron |
|
|---|---|
.svg) |
|
| Reference style |
|
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Odore Joseph Gendron (born September 13, 1921, died October 16, 2020) was an important leader in the Roman Catholic Church in America. He served as a Bishop for the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire. He held this important role from 1975 to 1990.
Contents
About Odore Gendron
Early Life and Education
Odore Joseph Gendron was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on September 13, 1921. His parents were Francis and Valida Gendron. He went to Sacred Heart School in Manchester.
Later, he continued his studies in Canada. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Sherbrooke, Quebec. From 1942 to 1947, he studied philosophy and theology at St. Paul Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario.
Becoming a Priest
Gendron became a priest for the Diocese of Manchester. He was ordained by Bishop Matthew Brady on May 31, 1947.
After becoming a priest, Gendron served in several parishes. He was an associate pastor at Angel Guardian Parish in Berlin, New Hampshire, until 1952. Then he served at Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon, New Hampshire (1952–1960). He also worked at St. Louis Church in Nashua, New Hampshire (1960–1965).
From 1965 to 1967, Gendron was the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. He then served at St. Augustin Parish in Manchester until 1972. In 1972, he became the first episcopal vicar for women religious. In December 1970, the Vatican gave him the title of honorary prelate. He also became vicar for clergy in January 1974.
Serving as Bishop of Manchester
On December 12, 1974, Pope Paul VI chose Gendron to be the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Manchester. He officially became a bishop on February 3, 1975. Bishop Ernest Primeau led the ceremony. Bishop Edward O'Leary and Bishop Timothy Harrington also helped.
As bishop, Gendron continued important changes from the Second Vatican Council. He started a permanent diaconate program. He also helped the diocese join the New Hampshire Council of Churches.
Bishop Gendron also helped establish two colleges. These were Magdalen College in Bedford, New Hampshire, and Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire. He also served as honorary president of Notre Dame College in Manchester.
Later Life and Legacy
After serving for fifteen years, Bishop Gendron retired on June 12, 1990. Leo O'Neil became the new bishop.
Odore Gendron passed away on October 16, 2020, at the age of 99. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Catholic bishop in the United States.
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
Episcopal Succession
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ernest John Primeau |
Bishop of Manchester 1975–1990 |
Succeeded by Leo Edward O'Neil |
Images for kids
-
A mitre is a special hat worn by bishops.
