Richard Thomas Guilfoyle (December 22, 1892 – June 10, 1957) 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 ...

who served as the third

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

of the Diocese of Altoona,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

from 1936 to 1957.

Biography

Early life

Richard Guilfoyle was born near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on December 22. 1892. At age 15, he started working in a coal mine. After deciding to enter the priesthood, he studied at St. Bonaventure College in St. Bonaventure, New York. Guilfoyle 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 Diocese of Erie by then Bishop

Dennis Joseph Dougherty Dennis Joseph Dougherty (August 16, 1865 – May 31, 1951) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1918 until his death in 1951, and was made a cardinal in 1921. He was Philadelphia's longes ...

on June 2, 1917. He then served as a curate at St. Stephen Parish in Oil City until 1921, when he became

secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

to then Bishop John Gannon. Guilfoyle also served as

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

of St. Peter's Cathedral in Erie and chancellor of the diocese.

Bishop of Altoona

On August 8, 1936, Guilfoyle was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Altoona by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on November 30, 1936, from Archbishop Gannon, assisted by Archbishop Thomas Walsh and Bishop Francis Tief. Guilfoyle died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

in Altoona on June 10, 1957, at age 64. Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona is named after him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guilfoyle, Richard Thomas 1892 births 1957 deaths St. Bonaventure University alumni 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States