Robert Daniel Conlon
Encyclopedia
Robert Daniel Conlon is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is currently Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois, after having served from August 6, 2002 until May 17, 2011 as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
, Ohio. He succeeds as Bishop of Joliet His Excellency, the Most Reverend Archbishop James Peter Sartain
, who in September 2010 was appointed Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
, Washington.
, Ohio
, as the eldest of the six children of Robert and Carla (née Holzman) Conlon. He attended St. Mary Church in Hyde Park
as a child, and received the diaconate
on March 9, 1974. Conlon obtained his Master's in Divinity
from the Athenaeum of Ohio
in 1975, and served as a deacon at St. Agnes Church in Cincinnati, where he was ordained
to the priesthood
on January 15, 1977. He then served as associate pastor
at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Cincinnati until July 1982.
From 1981 to 1983, Conlon worked within the archdiocesan
curia
of Cincinnati
, as director
of the Office of Planning and Research and assistant chancellor
. He then furthered his studies at St. Paul University
in Ottawa
, from where he earned his doctorate in canon law
and in philosophy
in January 1987. Upon his return to the United States
, Conlon was made chancellor for Cincinnati and director of its Department of Executive Services. He later became pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in New Bremen
on August 6, 1996.
On May 31, 2002, Conlon was appointed the fourth Bishop of Steubenville
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 6 from Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk
, the head of the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati, Ohio (of which the Diocese of Steubenville is a part) with Bishops Gilbert Sheldon
and Sydney Charles serving as co-consecrators
. Conlon took as his episcopal motto
: "Take Courage" (Daniel 10:19, John 16:33).
In 2005, the Bishop decided to lead a group of volunteers to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina
, after hearing Archbishop Alfred Hughes
speak about the devastation that Katrina caused in his Archdiocese of New Orleans
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he currently sits on the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.
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 is currently Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois, after having served from August 6, 2002 until May 17, 2011 as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties in Ohio. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius XII on October 21, 1944 out of territory from the Diocese of Columbus....
, Ohio. He succeeds as Bishop of Joliet His Excellency, the Most Reverend Archbishop James Peter Sartain
James Peter Sartain
James Peter Sartain is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Archbishop of Seattle, serving since 2010. He previously served as Bishop of Little Rock and Bishop of Joliet ....
, who in September 2010 was appointed Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
The Archdiocese of Seattle is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Seattle, the archdiocese encompasses all counties in the state west of the Cascade Range. Its cathedral is St. James Cathedral, and its present archbishop is J...
, Washington.
Biography
Robert Conlon was born in CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, as the eldest of the six children of Robert and Carla (née Holzman) Conlon. He attended St. Mary Church in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Ohio
Hyde Park is a neighborhood on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1998, the average home sales price was $248,512.Hyde Park is an eclectic neighborhood in eastern Cincinnati...
as a child, and received the diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on March 9, 1974. Conlon obtained his Master's in Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from the Athenaeum of Ohio
Athenaeum of Ohio
The Athenaeum of Ohio – Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West, originally St. Francis Xavier Seminary, is the third-oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is currently located at 6616 Beechmont Avenue in the Cincinnati, Ohio neighborhood of Mt. Washington, in the former Saint...
in 1975, and served as a deacon at St. Agnes Church in Cincinnati, where 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 January 15, 1977. He then served as associate pastor
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 Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Cincinnati until July 1982.
From 1981 to 1983, Conlon worked within the archdiocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
curia
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
, as director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Office of Planning and Research and assistant chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
. He then furthered his studies at St. Paul University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, from where he earned his doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
and in philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in January 1987. Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Conlon was made chancellor for Cincinnati and director of its Department of Executive Services. He later became pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in New Bremen
New Bremen, Ohio
New Bremen is a village in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,909 at of the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area....
on August 6, 1996.
On May 31, 2002, Conlon was appointed the fourth Bishop of Steubenville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties in Ohio. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius XII on October 21, 1944 out of territory from the Diocese of Columbus....
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. 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 the following August 6 from Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk
Daniel Edward Pilarczyk
Daniel Edward Pilarczyk is an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Cincinnati from 1982 to 2009.-Early life and education:...
, the head of the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati, Ohio (of which the Diocese of Steubenville is a part) with Bishops Gilbert Sheldon
Gilbert Ignatius Sheldon
Gilbert Ignatius Sheldon is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the third Bishop of Steubenville between 1992 and 2002, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland from 1976 to 1992....
and Sydney Charles 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...
. Conlon took as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Take Courage" (Daniel 10:19, John 16:33).
In 2005, the Bishop decided to lead a group of volunteers to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, after hearing Archbishop Alfred Hughes
Alfred Clifton Hughes
Alfred Clifton Hughes is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the 13th Archbishop of New Orleans, having previously served as Bishop of Baton Rouge from 1993 to 2002. On June 12, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Gregory M...
speak about the devastation that Katrina caused in his Archdiocese of New Orleans
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he currently sits on the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.