Charles Hubert Le Blond
The Most Reverend Charles Hubert Le Blond | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of St. Joseph | |
| See | Diocese of St. Joseph |
| In office | July 21, 1933 August 24, 1956 |
| Predecessor | Francis Gilfillan |
| Successor | None |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 29, 1909 |
| Consecration | July 21, 1933 by Joseph Schrembs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1883 Celina, Ohio, USA |
| Died | December 30, 1958 (aged 75) St. Joseph, Missouri |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Education | St. Mary's Seminary |
Charles Hubert Le Blond (November 21, 1883 – December 30, 1958) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of St. Joseph in Missouri from 1933 to 1956.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Charles Le Blond was born on November 21, 1883, in Celina, Ohio. He was one of three children of Charles McGinley and Anne Marie (née Brennan) Le Blond.[1] Charles McGinley was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1886 to 1890. Charles Le Blond was a grandson of U.S Representative Francis Le Blond and a cousin of Judge Frank Le Blond Kloeb.[2]
When Charles Le Blond was age five, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. John's Cathedral.[3] He then attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland for six years, graduating in 1903.[2] Le Blond studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary, also in Cleveland.[4]
Priesthood
[edit]Le Blond was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland on June 29, 1909.[5] His first assignment was as a curate at St. John's Cathedral, where he remained for two years.[4] In 1911, he was named director of St. Anthony's Home for Boys.[2] From 1912 to 1933, he served as the first diocesan director of Catholic Charities and Hospitals.[4] During his tenure as director, he laid a foundation for the many charitable Catholic institutions in the diocese.[3] In 1930, he was one of the delegates sent by the United States to the Pan-American Conference on Child Welfare in Lima, Peru.[6] He also represented the National Catholic Welfare Council at the international conferences on social work in Paris, France (1928) and in Frankfurt, Germany (1932).[6]
Bishop of St. Joseph
[edit]On July 21, 1933, Le Blond was appointed the fourth Bishop of St. Joseph, Missouri, by Pope Pius XI.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on September 21, 1933, from Bishop Joseph Schrembs, with Bishops James A. McFadden and Thomas O'Reilly serving as co-consecrators.[5] He took an interest in welfare work in the city, and was active in the annual Community Chest campaigns.[7] During his tenure as bishop, the number of priests in the diocese increased by 30%, and the Catholic population of the diocese increased by more than 3,000.[7] Due to his failing health, he received Bishop John Cody as a coadjutor bishop in 1954 to manage the daily affairs of the diocese.[8]
Retirement and legacy
[edit]After governing the diocese for twenty-three years, Le Blond resigned as Bishop of St. Joseph on August 24, 1956.[5] Following his resignation, the Diocese of St. Joseph was merged with the Diocese of Kansas City to create the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.[8]
Charles Le Blond died on December 30, 1958, at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, at age 75.[9] Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph is named in his honor.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "MRS. CHARLES M. LE BLOND". The New York Times. 1936-05-09.
- ^ a b c Avery, Elroy M. (1918). A History of Cleveland and Its Environs. Vol. II. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company.
- ^ a b "LEBLOND, CHARLES HUBERT". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- ^ a b c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- ^ a b c d "Bishop Charles Hubert Le Blond". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ a b "LE BLOND NAMED BISHOP". The New York Times. 1933-07-25.
- ^ a b "Our History". Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Archived from the original on 2010-07-25.
- ^ a b "Our History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph.
- ^ "Most Rev. Charles LeBlond Dies at 75; Retired Bishop of St. Joseph Diocese". The New York Times. 1959-01-01.
- ^ "At a Glance". Bishop LeBlond High School. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07.
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