Laurence Julius FitzSimon

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The Most Reverend

Laurence Julius FitzSimon
St. Meinrad's Seminary

Laurence Julius FitzSimon (January 31, 1895 – July 2, 1958) was an American

Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo
in Texas from 1941 until his death in 1958.

Biography

Early life

Laurence FitzSimon was born on January 31, 1895, in

San Antonio, Texas, to John and Theodora (née Okelmann) FitzSimon.[1] His family moved to Castroville, Texas, the following year.[1] He entered St. Anthony's College in San Antonio in 1907, then went to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1911.[2] In 1916, bad health forced FitzSimon to return to Texas.[1][3][4]

After recuperating, FitzSimon enlisted in the

St. Meinrad's Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana.[1]

Priesthood

FitzSimon was

ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Chartrand for the Archdiocese of San Antonio on May 17, 1921 at St. Meinrad.[5] After his ordination, FitzSimon was assigned as a faculty member at St. John's Seminary in San Antonio. In 1926, he left St. John's to serve as pastor of a parish in Runge, Texas.[1] He later became pastor of a parish in Kenedy, Texas, and in 1932 was assigned to one in Seguin, Texas.[1] FitzSimon also served as chancellor of the archdiocese from 1932 to 1941.[2][3]

Bishop of Amarillo

On August 1, 1941, FitzSimon was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo by

consecration on October 22, 1941, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Mariano Garriga and Sidney Matthew Metzger serving as co-consecrators.[5] FitzSimon was installed at Amarillo on November 5, 1941.[5] During his 17-year-long tenure, the number of churches, priests, schools, and institutions in the diocese more than doubled.[1]

In September 1945, several months after the end of

Francis E. Worley protesting the conditions at the Italian prisoner of war camp in Hereford, Texas. FitzSimon had visited the camp in July and seen that prisoners were receiving low rations of substandard quality. They also told him stories of beatings and other mistreatment.[6]

FitzSimon was a chronicler of the history of Catholicism in Texas, gathering historical material on its bishops and clerics during trips to Rome and France. In 1951, Cardinal Pierre-Marie Gerlier awarded FitzSimon the title of Chanoine d'Honneur de la Primatiale (Canon of Honor of the Primate) in recognition of his scholarship.[1]

FitzSimon suffered a stroke in 1954, but was able to continue his work as bishop.[1]

Death and legacy

Laurence FitzSimon died on July 2, 1958, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo at age 63. He is buried in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "FITZSIMON, LAURENCE JULIUS (1895-1958)". Texas State Historical Association.
  2. ^ a b c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1947). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. VII. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  3. ^ a b c "NAMED BISHOP IN TEXAS; Very Rev. L.J. FitzSimon Goes to Catholic See at Amarillo". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  4. ISBN 978-1-4917-3229-8
    .
  5. ^ a b c d "Bishop Laurence Julius FitzSimon". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  6. ISBN 978-0-89672-470-9
    .
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Amarillo
1941–1958 		Succeeded by
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