Lawrence B. Casey
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Bernard Brennan Casey (September 6, 1905—June 15, 1977) was the fifth Roman Catholic
Bishop of Paterson
(1966-1977).
, New York
, to Joseph Leo and Agnes Madeline (née Switzer) Casey. He studied at St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary from 1919 until 1924, when he entered St. Bernard's Seminary
. Casey was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 7, 1930. He then served as a curate
at St. Mary's Church in Rochester until 1932, and was secretary
to Bishops John Francis O'Hern
(1932-1933), Edward Mooney (1933-1937), and James E. Kearney
(1937-1946). He was named rector
of Holy Cross Church in 1946 and of Sacred Heart Cathedral
in 1952.
On February 10, 1953, Casey was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Rochester
and Titular Bishop
of Cea by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following May 5 from Cardinal Francis Spellman, with Bishops Walter Andrew Foery
and Alexander M. Zaleski
serving as co-consecrators
. Following the death of Bishop James Johnston Navagh
, he was named Bishop of Paterson
, New Jersey
, on March 4, 1966. After eleven years as bishop, he resigned on June 13, 1977. Casey later died two days later, aged 71.
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...
Bishop of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
(1966-1977).
Biography
Lawrence Casey was born in RochesterRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, 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 Joseph Leo and Agnes Madeline (née Switzer) Casey. He studied at St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary from 1919 until 1924, when he entered St. Bernard's Seminary
St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry
St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry is a Roman Catholic theological school in Rochester, New York. It was founded in 1893 as a seminary, and was one of the first US seminaries to accept laity. It is the official repository for the writings and papers of the noted evangelist and author,...
. Casey 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, 1930. He then 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 St. Mary's Church in Rochester until 1932, and was secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
to Bishops John Francis O'Hern
John Francis O'Hern
John Francis O'Hern was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rochester from 1929 until his death in 1933....
(1932-1933), Edward Mooney (1933-1937), and James E. Kearney
James E. Kearney
James Edward Kearney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salt Lake City and Bishop of Rochester .-Biography:...
(1937-1946). He was named 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 Holy Cross Church in 1946 and of Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral may refer to:in Australia*Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, Victoria, Australiain Bosnia and Herzegovina* Cathedral of Jesus' Heart, Sarajevoin Canada...
in 1952.
On February 10, 1953, Casey was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Rochester
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Greater Rochester region of New York State in the United States. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario through the Finger Lakes region to its...
and 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 Cea by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. 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 May 5 from Cardinal Francis Spellman, with Bishops Walter Andrew Foery
Walter Andrew Foery
Walter Andrew Foery was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Syracuse from 1937 to 1970.-Biography:...
and Alexander M. Zaleski
Alexander M. Zaleski
Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lansing from 1965 until his death in 1975.-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...
. Following the death of Bishop James Johnston Navagh
James Johnston Navagh
James Johnston Navagh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg and Bishop of Paterson .-Biography:...
, he was named Bishop of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, on March 4, 1966. After eleven years as bishop, he resigned on June 13, 1977. Casey later died two days later, aged 71.