Joseph Leopold Imesch
John Dearden | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | December 22, 2015 Joliet, Illinois, USA | (aged 84)
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Education | Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College Pontifical North American College |
Joseph Leopold Imesch (June 21, 1931 – December 22, 2015) was an American
Biography
Early life and education
Joseph Imesch was born on June 21, 1931, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, to Dionys and Margaret (née Margelisch) Imesch.[1] After attending St. Ambrose Parish school and St. Paul Elementary School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College in Detroit. Imesch graduated from Sacred Heart with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953.[2] He then continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[2][3]
Ordination and ministry
While in Rome, Imesch was
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
On February 8, 1973, Imesch was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and
Bishop of Joliet
On June 30, 1979, Imesch was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Joliet by
Soon after arriving in Joliet, Imesch worked with other community leaders to create the Daybreak Shelter for the homeless. Every month, Imesch would visit the shelter to serve meals and converse with its clients. He started the first Diocesan Annual Appeal in 1986 and in 1996 founded the Joliet Diocesan Catholic Education Foundation. Imesch started a sister relationship with the Diocese of Sucre in Bolivia, helping build and staff a hospital there.[3]
Retirement and legacy
Shortly before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops, Imesch sent a letter of resignation to the pope. Pope Benedict VI accepted his resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Joliet on May 16, 2006.[4] Imesch was succeeded by Bishop J. Peter Sartain.[4] After his retirement, Imesch continued to perform confirmations and other pastoral duties. [3]
During a sexual abuse case against the Diocese of Joliet, Imesch admitted in sworn depositions to having transferred to different parishes priests accused of
Joseph Imesch eventually moved to Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet, where he died on December 22, 2015, at age 84.
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- ^ a b "Retired Bishop Joseph L. Imesch". Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Farwell and Thank You, Bishop Imesch" (PDF). Serra Club of DuPage County.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois". www.dioceseofjoliet.org. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Bishop Joseph Leopold Imesch". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved December 23, 2015.[self-published source]