William Quarter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right ReverendWilliam J. Quarter |
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|---|---|
| Bishop of Chicago | |
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Chicago |
| See | Chicago |
| In Office | March 10, 1844 – April 10, 1848 |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | James Oliver Van de Velde, S.J. |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 19, 1829 |
| Consecration | March 10, 1844 by John Joseph Hughes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 21, 1806 Killurin, County Offaly (then King's County), Ireland |
| Died | April 10, 1848 (aged 42) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
William J. Quarter (January 21, 1806 – April 10, 1848) was an Irish American church leader in the Catholic Church. He became the very first Bishop of Chicago and served from 1844 to 1848.
Contents
Who Was William Quarter?
His Early Life and Education
William Quarter was born on January 21, 1806, in Killurin, which was then called King's County, in Ireland. His parents were Michael and Ann Quarter. He was one of four sons. Two of his brothers, Walter and James, also wanted to become priests. Sadly, James passed away before he could be ordained.
William went to private schools in Tullamore from 1814 to 1822. He studied important subjects like Greek and Latin, which are called the classics.
Deciding to Serve in America
While William was getting ready to go to college, he met a priest who had worked as a missionary in the United States. This priest told him about the challenges faced by Catholics in America. Many people there did not have priests, churches, or important religious ceremonies.
William was deeply moved by these stories. He decided he wanted to dedicate his life to helping Catholics in America. In April 1822, he left Ireland and traveled to Quebec, Canada.
Becoming a Priest
When William arrived in Canada, he tried to join seminaries (schools for priests) in Quebec and Montreal. However, he was too young to be accepted. So, he traveled south to the United States.
He was finally accepted at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. While studying there, he also taught Greek and Latin. He finished his studies in 1829.
After that, he moved to New York. On September 19, 1829, he was ordained as a priest by Bishop John Dubois.
Serving in New York City
William Quarter first worked as an assistant priest at St. Peter's Church in Manhattan. In 1832, a serious cholera sickness spread. He bravely helped people who were sick and dying during this time.
He also made sure that children who lost their parents to the sickness were cared for. He placed them with the Sisters of Charity, a group of religious women.
In 1833, he became the main priest at St. Mary's Church on Grand Street. There, he started a parochial school, which is a school run by the church.
Leading the Diocese of Chicago
Becoming the First Bishop
On November 28, 1843, an important announcement was made. Pope Gregory XVI chose William Quarter to be the very first Bishop of the new Diocese of Chicago in Illinois.
He officially became a bishop on March 10, 1844. The ceremony was led by Bishop John Joseph Hughes at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
William Quarter arrived in Chicago on May 5, 1844. His brother Walter, who also became a priest, came with him. Walter later became a very important helper to the Bishop.
Building the Church in Chicago
Bishop Quarter worked very hard to build up the Catholic Church in Chicago.
- He finished building St. Mary's Cathedral in 1845.
- He even used his own money and help from his family to pay off the church's debt.
- He is known as the founder of Catholic education in Chicago.
- He started two important schools: University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Saint Xavier University.
- He also opened the first local church school in Chicago.
- He brought the Sisters of Mercy, a group of religious sisters, to Chicago from Pittsburgh.
- He held the first meeting for all the priests in his diocese.
- He was the first American bishop to start regular meetings for priests to discuss religious topics.
Bishop Quarter also played a key role in getting a law passed in 1845. This law allowed the Bishop of Chicago to legally own property for religious purposes. During his four years as bishop, he started 30 new churches and ordained 29 new priests.
His Passing
Bishop William Quarter passed away in Chicago on April 10, 1848. He was 42 years old.
See also
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
