Peter Leo Gerety facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Peter Leo Gerety |
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| Archbishop of Newark | |
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| See | Archdiocese of Newark |
| Appointed | March 25, 1974 |
| Enthroned | June 28, 1974 |
| Reign ended | June 3, 1986 |
| Predecessor | Thomas Aloysius Boland |
| Successor | Theodore Edgar McCarrick |
| Other posts | Coadjutor Bishop of Portland (1966–69) Bishop of Portland (1969–74) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 29, 1939 |
| Consecration | June 1, 1966 by Henry Joseph O'Brien |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 19, 1912 Shelton, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 2016 (aged 104) Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Motto | In omnibus Christ (In all circumstances, give thanks) |
Peter Leo Gerety (July 19, 1912 – September 20, 2016) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Archbishop of Newark in New Jersey from 1974 to 1986. Before that, he was Bishop of Portland in Maine from 1969 to 1974. At the time of his death at age 104, Gerety was the oldest living Catholic bishop in the world.
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Early Life and Education
Peter Gerety was born on July 19, 1912, in Shelton, Connecticut. He was the oldest of nine sons. His parents were Peter Leo and Charlotte Ursula Gerety. Since there were no local Catholic schools, he went to public schools in Shelton. These included Commodore Isaac Hull School and Ferry Street School.
He graduated from Shelton High School in 1929. After high school, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Transportation for three years.
In 1932, Gerety began studying to become a priest at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He continued his studies in 1934 at the Saint-Sulpice Seminary in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
Becoming a Priest
On June 29, 1939, Gerety was ordained as a priest. This ceremony took place for the Diocese of Hartford at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. After returning to Connecticut, he became a curate at St. John the Evangelist Parish in New Haven, Connecticut.
Besides his duties at St. John's, he also worked as a chaplain at Grace-New Haven Hospital in New Haven. In 1942, Gerety was assigned to St. Brendan Parish. He also became the director of the Blessed Martin de Porres Center in New Haven. This center was a group that helped the African American Catholic community. In 1956, the center became St. Martin de Porres Parish, and Gerety was named its first pastor.
While at St. Martin's, Gerety spoke out for the American Civil Rights Movement. He also supported programs that aimed to end poverty. In 1963, he was chosen to lead the Diocesan Priests' Conference on Interracial Justice.
Serving as a Bishop
Bishop of Portland, Maine
On March 4, 1966, Pope Paul VI appointed Gerety as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Portland. This meant he would help the current bishop and take over if needed. He became a bishop on June 1, 1966. Archbishop Henry O'Brien led the ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.
Because Bishop Feeney was ill, Gerety took over the daily running of the diocese on February 18, 1967. When Bishop Feeney passed away on September 15, 1969, Gerety became the eighth Bishop of Portland.
During his time in Portland, he made changes to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He also helped provide housing for older people. He expanded the Diocesan Bureau of Human Relations, which helped people in need. Gerety also supported the rights of people who refused to fight in the Vietnam War for moral reasons.
Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey
After Archbishop Thomas Boland retired, Gerety was appointed the third Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, on April 2, 1974. His official ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on June 28 of that year. He was the first archbishop of Newark to live in the city of Newark itself.
During his 12 years in Newark, Gerety created the Office of Pastoral Renewal. This office helped divorced Catholics. It later became RENEW International, an organization that helps Christian communities in many countries. Gerety also started the Archbishop's Annual Appeal in 1975. He supported movements that encouraged spiritual renewal and unity among different Christian groups. He also created a fund to support studies in the history of Catholicism in the United States.
Later Life
Gerety retired as Archbishop of Newark on June 3, 1986. He was succeeded by Bishop Theodore McCarrick. Peter Leo Gerety passed away in Totowa, New Jersey, on September 20, 2016, at the age of 104. At that time, he was the oldest living Catholic bishop in the world.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Leo Gerety para niños
