Joseph Alphonse McNicholas
{{Short description|American prelate}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Joseph Alphonse McNicholas
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
titular bishop of Scala
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| see = Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
| elected =
| term = September 3, 1975 -
April 17, 1983
| quashed =
| predecessor = William Aloysius O'Connor
| successor = Daniel L. Ryan
| other_post = Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis
1969 to 1975
| ordination = June 7, 1949
| ordained_by = Joseph Ritter
| consecration = March 25, 1970
| consecrated_by = John Carberry
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|01|23}}
| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|04|17|1923|01|23}}
| death_place =
| religion = Roman Catholic
| education = Cardinal Glennon College
Kenrick Seminary
| alma_mater =
| motto =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_alt =
| honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend
}}
Joseph Alphonse McNicholas (January 13, 1923 – April 17, 1983) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois from 1975 to until his death in 1983. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri from 1969 to 1975.
Biography
= Early life =
Joseph McNicholas was born on January 23, 1923, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Cardinal Glennon College in Shrewsbury, Missouri, and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.{{cite news|date=1983-04-18|work=The New York Times|title=JOSEPH A. McNICHOLAS|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/18/obituaries/joseph-a-mcnicholas.html}} He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1949 by Cardinal Joseph Elmer Ritter.{{cite news|work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|title=Bishop Joseph Alphonse McNicholas|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmcnj.html}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2015}} After his ordination, McNicholas' first assignment was as an assistant pastor at the Old Cathedral of St. Louis Parish. He was transferred in 1955 to Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in St. Louis as a part time associate pastor while studying for his Master of Social Work degree at St. Louis University.{{Cite web |title=Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas was mourned today... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/04/18/Roman-Catholic-Bishop-Joseph-A-McNicholas-was-mourned-today/7052419490000/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=UPI |language=en}}
= Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis =
On January 31, 1969, McNicholas was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and titular bishop of Scala by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration in St. Louis on March 25, 1969, from Cardinal John Carberry, with Archbishop Leo Byrne and Bishop Charles Helmsing serving as co-consecrators. As auxiliary bishop, McNicholas also served as pastor of the Old Cathedral of St. Louis Parish, and was active in social welfare and youth programs.{{cite news|work=Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois|title=History of the Diocese of Springfield|url=http://www.dio.org/history-of-the-diocese-of-springfield.html|access-date=2009-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609080104/http://www.dio.org/history-of-the-diocese-of-springfield.html|archive-date=2009-06-09|url-status=dead}}
= Bishop of Springfield =
Pope Paul VI appointed McNicholas as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield on July 22, 1975. He was installed by Cardinal John Cody on September 3, 1975. He became personally acquainted with the diocese by launching a visitation of churches, missions, schools, hospitals, the orphanage, and homes for senior citizens. He hosted the first Midwest Regional Meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to be held in downstate Illinois, and in 1978 appointed the first nun to the position of superintendent of Catholic schools. He also renamed the diocesan newspaper as Time and Eternity.
Joseph McNicholas died on April 17, 1983, from a heart attack at age 60.{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=1983-04-18 |title=JOSEPH A. McNICHOLAS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/18/obituaries/joseph-a-mcnicholas.html |access-date=2022-06-15 |issn=0362-4331}}
References
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{{succession box |
before=William Aloysius O'Connor |
title=Bishop of Springfield in Illinois|
after=Daniel L. Ryan |
years=1975—1983}}
{{S-bef|before=–}}
{{S-ttl|title=Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis |years=1969–1975}}
{{S-aft|after=–}}
{{s-end}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNicholas, Joseph Alphonse}}
Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis
Category:Clergy from St. Louis
Category:Kenrick–Glennon Seminary alumni
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States