Francis William Howard
Francis William Howard | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Covington | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Covington |
| Appointed | March 26, 1923 |
| Term ended | January 18, 1944 |
| Predecessor | Ferdinand Brossart |
| Successor | William Theodore Mulloy |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 16, 1891 by John Ambrose Watterson |
| Consecration | July 15, 1923 by Henry Moeller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1867 Columbus, Ohio, US |
| Died | January 18, 1944 (aged 76) Covington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Motto | In spiritu lenitatis (In the spirit of gentleness) |
| Styles of Francis William Howard | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Francis William Howard (June 21, 1867 – January 18, 1944) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Covington in Kentucky from 1923 until his death in 1944.
Biography
Early life
The fifth of seven children, Francis Howard was born on June 21, 1867, in Columbus, Ohio, to Francis and Catherine (née O'Sullivan) Howard, both Irish immigrants.[1] After attending St. Joseph Academy in Columbus, he entered Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara, New York, in 1884. Howard returned to Ohio in 1888 to continue his studies at Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West in Cincinnati.[1]
Priesthood
Howard was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Columbus by Bishop John Ambrose Watterson on June 16, 1891, in Columbus.[2][3] In 1901, he organized the first Columbus Diocesan School Board.[4] He also served as secretary (1904–1928), president (1928–1936), and member of the advisory board (1936–1944) of the National Catholic Educational Association in Leesburg, Virginia.[4] He was the founding pastor of Holy Rosary Church, and oversaw the construction of the school building and the church itself.[5]
Bishop of Covington
On March 26, 1923, Howard was appointed the fifth bishop of Covington by Pope Pius XI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration at St. Mary's Cathedral in Covington, Kentucky, on July 15, 1923, from Archbishop Henry K. Moeller, with Bishops James Joseph Hartley and John A. Floersh serving as co-consecrators.[3]
During his 20-year tenure, Howard became a nationally recognized leader in Catholic education and established a strong system of Catholic grade schools and high schools in the diocese.[4] The Vatican named Howard as an assistant at the pontifical throne in 1928. Following the 1937 Ohio River flood that devastated Kentucky, he opened all the Catholic churches in Covington for relief purposes.[6]
Death
Howard died of heart disease in Covington on January 18, 1944.[7] He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Howard, Bishop Francis W. Papers". ACUA Catholic Education Collections.
- ^ The Catholic Encyclopedia and its Makers. The Encyclopedia Press. 1917. p. 80. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via archive.org.
- ^ a b c "Bishop Francis William Howard". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ a b c d "Most Rev. Francis William Howard, D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington.
- ^ United States Department of the Interior (July 5, 2025). Holy Rosary Church Columbus Ohio NRHP.
- ^ "1937 Flood". Kenton County Public Library.
- ^ "Bishop Howard Dies of Heart Ailment". Washington C.H. Record-Herald. Covington, Kentucky. AP. January 18, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.