Francis James Furey

His Excellency, The Most Reverend
Francis James Furey
Archbishop of San Antonio
See San Antonio
Installed May 13, 1969
Term ended April 23, 1979
Predecessor Robert Emmet Lucey
Successor Patrick Flores
Other posts Bishop of San Diego (1966 - 1969)
Titular Bishop of Temnus (1960-1966)
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia (1964 - 1966)
Orders
Ordination March 15, 1930
Consecration December 22, 1960
Personal details
Born (1905-02-22)February 22, 1905
Summit Hill, Pennsylvania
Died April 23, 1979(1979-04-23) (aged 74)
San Antonio, Texas
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic

Francis James Furey (February 22, 1905 April 23, 1979) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Diego, California (1966-1969) and as Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas (1969-1979).

Styles of
Francis James Furey
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Monsignor
Posthumous style not applicable

Biography

The eldest of five children, Francis Furey was born in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, to John and Anna (née O'Donnell) Furey.[1] After attending public schools in Coaldale, he graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1920 as valedictorian.[2] He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook for four years before continuing his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, from where he received a Ph.D. (1926) and a S.T.D. (1930).[1] He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Basilio Pompilj on March 15, 1930.[3]

Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as private secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, from 1930 to 1936.[4] He was president of Immaculata College (1936–46) and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (1946–58).[4] He was named a Domestic Prelate in 1947.[1] Returning from academia, he became pastor of St. Helena's Church in Philadelphia in 1958.[1]

On August 17, 1960, Furey was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Temnus by Pope John XXIII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 22 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick serving as co-consecrators.[3] Furey was named Coadjutor Bishop of San Diego, California, on July 21, 1963.[3] His transfer to California was the first U.S. appointment for the Latin Rite by the newly elected Pope Paul VI. Upon the death of Bishop Charles F. Buddy, Furey succeeded him as the second Bishop of San Diego on March 5, 1966.[3] He was member of the administrative tribunal of the Second Vatican Council.[4]

On May 23, 1969, Furey was appointed the third Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas, in succession to Archbishop Robert Emmet Lucey.[3] He established one of the first diocesan commissions for Mexican American affairs in the United States, and promoted the candidacy of Patrick Flores, the first Mexican American bishop in the country.[4] He was an outspoken supporter of capital punishment and Communities Organized for Public Service.[4] He also supported the Farah strike (October 1973) and the lettuce boycotts of the Texas Farm Workers Union.[4] He held various offices within the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, including chairman of the Committee for the Campaign for Human Development.[4] He was chaplain of the Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus, bishop protector of the Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A., and appointed by Governor Preston Smith to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Commission.[4] He was an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps, and received honorary degrees from La Salle College, St. Joseph College, Villanova University, St. John's University, Brooklyn, New York; Mount St. Mary's University, and Our Lady of the Lake University.[4]

Furey died at age 74, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. "St. Mary's and Marian". Coaldale High School Alumni.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Archbishop Francis James Furey". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "FUREY, FRANCIS JAMES (1905-1979)". Handbook of Texas Online.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
19601966
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Miguel de Andrea
Titular Bishop of Temnus
19601966
Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by
Charles F. Buddy
Bishop of San Diego
19661969
Succeeded by
Leo Thomas Maher
Preceded by
Robert Emmet Lucey
Archbishop of San Antonio
19691979
Succeeded by
Patrick Flores
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