Martin Dewey McNamara
Encyclopedia
Martin Dewey McNamara was an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the first Bishop of Joliet, Illinois
(1949-1966).
, Illinois
, to John Lawrence and Mary (née Hogan) McNamara. He was educated at St. Bride's School, Cathedral College, St. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore, and The Catholic University of America
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Cardinal George Mundelein on December 23, 1922. He became a professor
at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
in 1925, and was a chaplain
at St. Vincent Infant Hospital from 1932 to 1937. He was made pastor
of St. Francis Xavier Church in Wilmette
in 1937, and named a domestic prelate
in 1946.
On December 17, 1948, McNamara was appointed the first Bishop
of the newly-erected Diocese of Joliet by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on March 7, 1949 from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops John Joseph Boylan
and Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
serving as co-consecrators
. He was too ill to attend the Second Vatican Council
. He later died at age 70.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman 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 was the first Bishop of Joliet, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(1949-1966).
Biography
Martin McNamara was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to John Lawrence and Mary (née Hogan) McNamara. He was educated at St. Bride's School, Cathedral College, St. Mary's Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore, and The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. 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....
by Cardinal George Mundelein on December 23, 1922. He became a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary was an American seminary preparatory school administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago for young men considering the priesthood...
in 1925, and was a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at St. Vincent Infant Hospital from 1932 to 1937. He was made 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. Francis Xavier Church in Wilmette
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
in 1937, and 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"...
in 1946.
On December 17, 1948, McNamara was appointed the first Bishop
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the newly-erected Diocese of Joliet 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 March 7, 1949 from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops John Joseph Boylan
John Joseph Boylan (bishop)
John Joseph Boylan was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockford, Illinois .-Biography:John Boylan was born in New York City to Edward Lawrence and Bridget Anne Boylan. He studied at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island and Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland . He entered St...
and Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
Albert Rudolph Zuroweste was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Belleville from 1948 to 1976.-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 too ill to attend the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. He later died at age 70.