Alphonse Joseph Glorieux
Encyclopedia
Bishop Alphonse Joseph Glorieux (February 1, 1844–August 25, 1917) was a Belgian
missionary
Roman Catholic bishop
, who served as the first bishop of Boise
, Idaho
, United States
.
family in the commune of Dottignies, in what is now the municipality
of Mouscron
, Hainaut, Belgium. As a young man, he entered the seminary, specifically The American College of the Immaculate Conception
in Louvain
, with intent to go to the American missions. He was ordained
a priest
on the 17 August 1867, and was sent to the United States
.
in 1871. On 7 October 1884, he was appointed vicar apostolic of the Idaho Territory
, after an eight year interregnum
following the resignation of fellow Belgian Louis Aloysius Lootens
as vicar apostolic. He was consecrated bishop on 19 April 1885 in the Baltimore Basilica of the Assumption, while attending the Third Council of Baltimore.
The diocese of Boise
was erected on 25 August 1893, and Glorieux was appointed bishop of the newborn diocese. The diocese was set at its present boundaries at that time, and Glorieux made the Church of St. John the Evangelist
in Boise his cathedral
.
Glorieux died on 25 August 1917, and was succeeded by Daniel Mary Gorman
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
Roman Catholic bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, who served as the first bishop of Boise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
The Diocese of Boise is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by a bishop who serves as pastor of the cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Beginning in Belgium
Glorieux was born on 1 February 1844 to a BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
family in the commune of Dottignies, in what is now the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Mouscron
Mouscron
Mouscron is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. The Mouscron municipality includes the old communes of Dottignies , Luingne, and Herseaux .-Middle Ages:...
, Hainaut, Belgium. As a young man, he entered the seminary, specifically The American College of the Immaculate Conception
The American College of the Immaculate Conception
The American College of the Immaculate Conception, or the American College at Louvain, was a Roman Catholic seminary in Leuven, Belgium, which operated under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops...
in Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, with intent to go to the American missions. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on the 17 August 1867, and was sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Ministry in the United States
Glorieux made his way west, and took a position as first president of St. Michael's College, a school for boys that opened in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1871. On 7 October 1884, he was appointed vicar apostolic of the Idaho Territory
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 4, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho.-1860s:...
, after an eight year interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
following the resignation of fellow Belgian Louis Aloysius Lootens
Louis Aloysius Lootens
Louis Lootens was a Belgian-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of Idaho and auxiliary bishop of Vancouver Island .-Biography:...
as vicar apostolic. He was consecrated bishop on 19 April 1885 in the Baltimore Basilica of the Assumption, while attending the Third Council of Baltimore.
The diocese of Boise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
The Diocese of Boise is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by a bishop who serves as pastor of the cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise...
was erected on 25 August 1893, and Glorieux was appointed bishop of the newborn diocese. The diocese was set at its present boundaries at that time, and Glorieux made the Church of St. John the Evangelist
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Boise, Idaho)
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, also known simply as St. John’s Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Boise, Idaho, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Boise, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
in Boise his cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.
Glorieux died on 25 August 1917, and was succeeded by Daniel Mary Gorman
Daniel Mary Gorman
Daniel Mary Gorman was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Boise from 1918 until his death in 1927.-Biography:...
.