Raymond Peter Hillinger (May 2, 1904 – November 13, 1971) was an American

prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pre ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. He served as bishop of the

Diocese of Rockford The Diocese of Rockford ( la, Diœcesis Rockfordiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern Illinois region of the United States. The prelate is a bishop serving as the pastor of the Moth ...

in Illinois (1954–1956) and as an auxiliary bishop of the

Archdiocese of Chicago The Archdiocese of Chicago ( la, Archidiœcesis Chicagiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States. It was established as a diocese in 1843 and ...

(1956–1971).

Biography

Early life

Raymond Hillinger was born on May 2, 1904, in

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, to Philip and Mary (née Neuses) Hillinger. After graduating from New Trier High School in Wilmette, Illinois, he studied at

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. Located in downtown Chicago at 103 East Chestnut Street, a ...

in Chicago and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Hillinger was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...

to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal George Mundelein on April 2, 1932. He then served as a curate at St. Aloysius Parish in Chicago until 1935, when he became a member of the archdiocesan Mission Band. Hillinger was appointed on June 2, 1950, as

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of Angel Guardian Orphanage in the

Rogers Park Rogers Park is the first of Chicago's 77 community areas. Located from the Loop, it is on the city's far north side on the shore of Lake Michigan. The neighborhood is commonly known for its cultural diversity, lush green public spaces, early ...

section of Chicago, serving there until 1953.

Bishop of Rockford

On November 3, 1953, Hillinger was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Rockford by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on December 29, 1953, from Cardinal

Samuel Stritch Samuel Alphonsius Stritch (August 17, 1887 – May 27, 1958) was an American Cardinal prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1940 to 1958 and as pro-prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Pro ...

, with Bishops Martin McNamara and William O'Connor serving as co-consecrators. He was installed at St. James Pro-Cathedral in Rockford on January 14, 1954. By 1955, Hillinger's health had started to deteriorate. In November 1955, Cardinal Stritch announced the appointment of Monsignor Andrew J. Burns, the

vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop' ...

, as administrator of the diocese.

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago

On June 27, 1956, Pope Pius XII named Hillinger as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

and

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 Catholic, Eastern Orthodox ...

of ''

Derbe Derbe or Dervi ( gr, Δέρβη), also called Derveia ( gr, Δέρβεια), was a city of Galatia in Asia Minor, and later of Lycaonia, and still later of Isauria and Cappadocia. It is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles at , , and . Derbe ...

''. He also became the pastor of St. Mel-Holy Ghost Parish in Chicago. Hillinger confirmed future Bishop Daniel R. Jenky and ordained the future Cardinal

Francis George Francis Eugene George (January 16, 1937 – April 17, 2015) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the eighth Archbishop of Chicago in Illinois (1997–2014) and previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Yakima and A ...

to the priesthood. Speaking to the first National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice at Loyola University Chicago in September 1958, Hillinger declared that those who oppose the Church's stand against

racial discrimination Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their skin color, race or ethnic origin.Individuals can discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain g ...

are "simply are not Catholic, and there are no two ways about it." On July 25, 1960, Hillinger offered the

invocation An invocation (from the Latin verb ''invocare'' "to call on, invoke, to give") may take the form of: *Supplication, prayer or spell. *A form of possession. *Command or conjuration. * Self-identification with certain spirits. These forms ...

at the opening of the

1960 Republican National Convention The 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre. It was the 14th and most recent time overall that Chicago hosted the Republican National Convention, more ti ...

in Chicago.

Retirement and legacy

Hillinger retired as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1968. Raymond Hillinger died in

Glenview, Illinois Glenview is an incorporated village located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, approximately 15 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. Per the 2020 census, the population was 48,705. The current Village President is Michael Jenny. Geography ...

, on November 13, 1971, after a long illness. His body lay in state in the chapel at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.Washington Post, November 16, 1971, page C6

References

External links

*
Biography: The Most Reverend Raymond P. Hillinger, D.D.
at the Diocese of Rockford {{DEFAULTSORT:Hillinger, Raymond Peter 1904 births 1971 deaths People from Chicago Participants in the Second Vatican Council University of Saint Mary of the Lake alumni Roman Catholic bishops of Rockford 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago