Francis Joseph Tief
Encyclopedia
Francis Joseph Tief was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Concordia
from 1921 to 1938.
, New York
, to John and Catherine (née Glynn) Tief, who were both from Ireland
. After studying at Niagara University
for one year, he attended St. Bonaventure's College
in Allegany
, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1905. Tief was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Charles H. Colton
on June 13, 1908. He briefly served as a curate
at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New York City
before becoming the first resident pastor
of Sacred Heart Church in Webb City
, Missouri
. In 1910 he became rector
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
in Kansas City
, and was named vicar general
of the Diocese of Kansas City
in 1916.
On December 16, 1920, Tief was appointed the third Bishop of Concordia
, Kansas
, by Pope Benedict XV
. He received his episcopal consecration
on March 30, 1921 from Bishop Thomas Francis Lillis
, with Bishops Peter Muldoon
and John Henry Tihen
serving as co-consecrators
. He was installed
at the Cathedral
of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Concordia
on the following April 6. During his tenure, Tief built or renovated eight churches, eight rectories
, six schools
, two convent
s, an elderly home, the Home of the Little Flower in Concordia (1924), St. Mary's Hospital in Manhattan
(1936), St. Joseph's College and Military Academy in Hays
(1931), and Marymount College
in Salina
(1922). He ordained 28 priests, built a new episcopal residence and chancery
in Concordia (1926–1927), and established the Northwestern Kansas Register as the diocesan newspaper
in 1937. He also pioneered the religious vacation school
movement which officially began in 1927.
After 17 years of service, Tief resigned as Bishop due to ill health on June 11, 1938; he was named Titular Bishop
of Nisa in Lycia on the same date. He retired to his native Port Chester, where he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church and died over 27 years later, aged 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Concordia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
from 1921 to 1938.
Biography
Francis Tief was born in Port ChesterPort Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to John and Catherine (née Glynn) Tief, who were both from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. After studying at Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
for one year, he attended St. Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
in Allegany
Allegany, New York
Allegany, New York may refer to:*Two locations in Cattaraugus County, New York:**Allegany , New York**Allegany , New York*Allegany County, New York...
, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1905. Tief was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Charles H. Colton
Charles H. Colton
Charles Henry Colton was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Buffalo from 1903 until his death in 1915.-Early life and education:...
on June 13, 1908. He briefly served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before becoming the first resident pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Sacred Heart Church in Webb City
Webb City, Missouri
Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Webb City is located at ....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. In 1910 he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception may refer to:In Benin:*Basilique de l’Immaculée Conception, OuidahIn Burkina Faso:*Ouagadougou CathedralIn Canada:*Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception...
in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and was named vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Diocese of Kansas City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on September 10, 1880, as the Diocese of Kansas City, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. ...
in 1916.
On December 16, 1920, Tief was appointed the third Bishop of Concordia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, by Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on March 30, 1921 from Bishop Thomas Francis Lillis
Thomas Francis Lillis
Thomas Francis Lillis was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas and Bishop of Kansas City, Missouri .-Biography:...
, with Bishops Peter Muldoon
Peter Muldoon
Peter J. Muldoon was born in Columbia, California to Irish immigrants John and Catherine Muldoon. He was educated at St. Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland and ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1886...
and John Henry Tihen
John Henry Tihen
John Henry Tihen was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska and Bishop of Denver, Colorado .-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
at the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Concordia
Concordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
on the following April 6. During his tenure, Tief built or renovated eight churches, eight rectories
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
, six schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, two convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
s, an elderly home, the Home of the Little Flower in Concordia (1924), St. Mary's Hospital in Manhattan
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
(1936), St. Joseph's College and Military Academy in Hays
Hays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University...
(1931), and Marymount College
Marymount College (Kansas)
Marymount College was a four-year liberal arts college located in Salina, Kansas. Originally opened in 1922 as a women's college, Marymount was the first Catholic liberal arts college to open in the state....
in Salina
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
(1922). He ordained 28 priests, built a new episcopal residence and chancery
Diocesan chancery
A diocesan chancery is the branch of administration which handles all written documents used in the official government of a Roman Catholic or Anglican diocese....
in Concordia (1926–1927), and established the Northwestern Kansas Register as the diocesan newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in 1937. He also pioneered the religious vacation school
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is a specialized form of religious education which focuses on children. Churches usually hold the week long events during the summer, though the lengths of such programs may vary, and they are sometimes held during other times of the year.-History:The origins of Vacation...
movement which officially began in 1927.
After 17 years of service, Tief resigned as Bishop due to ill health on June 11, 1938; he was named Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Nisa in Lycia on the same date. He retired to his native Port Chester, where he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church and died over 27 years later, aged 84.