Joseph John Fox
Encyclopedia
Joseph John Fox was an American
prelate
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Green Bay
from 1904 to 1914.
, Wisconsin
, to Paul and Frances (née Bartel) Fox, who were German
immigrants. He received his early education at the parochial school
of the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier
in his native city. He made his classical studies at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee from 1870 to 1875. He then studied philosophy
and theology
at the American College of Louvain in Belgium
. While in Belgium, he was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 7, 1879.
Fox's first assignment, following his return to Wisconsin, was as pastor
of St. Kilian Church in New Franken
, where he remained for eight months. He afterwards served at St. John the Baptist Church in Green Bay for three years, in addition to serving as secretary to Bishop Francis Krautbauer
. In 1883, he became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Marinette
, serving there for eleven years. He served as vicar general
of the diocese from 1894 to 1904, and was named a domestic prelate
by Pope Leo XIII
in 1898.
On May 27, 1904, Fox was appointed the fifth Bishop of Green Bay
by Pope Pius X
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following June 25 from Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, with Bishops William Stang
and Frederick Eis
serving as co-consecrators
. He was the first and only native son of the diocese to become its bishop. During his tenure, he built a new episcopal residence (now the chancery
), and displayed a strong interest in education and advancing the parochial school system.
Fox resigned as Bishop of Green Bay on November 7, 1914; he was appointed Titular Bishop
of Ionopolis by Pope Benedict XV
on the same date. He later died at age 59.
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 Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Green Bay
Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
from 1904 to 1914.
Biography
Joseph Fox was born in Green BayGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, to Paul and Frances (née Bartel) Fox, who were German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigrants. He received his early education at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier
Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier in Green Bay
The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay in Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States. The Cathedral was named in honor of Francis Xavier....
in his native city. He made his classical studies at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee from 1870 to 1875. He then studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the American College of Louvain in Belgium
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...
. While in Belgium, he 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....
on June 7, 1879.
Fox's first assignment, following his return to Wisconsin, was as 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 St. Kilian Church in New Franken
New Franken, Wisconsin
New Franken is an unincorporated community in the town of Scott in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The town hall is located in New Franken. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Religion:...
, where he remained for eight months. He afterwards served at St. John the Baptist Church in Green Bay for three years, in addition to serving as secretary to Bishop Francis Krautbauer
Francis Xavier Krautbauer
Francis Xavier Krautbauer was the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, in Green Bay, Wisconsin....
. In 1883, he became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Marinette
Marinette, Wisconsin
Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee...
, serving there for eleven years. He served as 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 from 1894 to 1904, and was named a domestic prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
in 1898.
On May 27, 1904, Fox was appointed the fifth Bishop of Green Bay
Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. He received his episcopal
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....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following June 25 from Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, with Bishops William Stang
William Stang
William Stang was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Fall River from 1904 until his death in 1907.-Biography:...
and Frederick Eis
Frederick Eis
Frederick Eis was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette from 1899 to 1922.-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 the first and only native son of the diocese to become its bishop. During his tenure, he built a new episcopal residence (now the chancery
Chancery
Chancery may refer to:* Chancery , the building that houses a diplomatic mission, such as an embassy* Chancery , a medieval writing office* Chancery , in Ceredigion, Wales...
), and displayed a strong interest in education and advancing the parochial school system.
Fox resigned as Bishop of Green Bay on November 7, 1914; he was appointed 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 Ionopolis 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...
on the same date. He later died at age 59.