Joseph John Gerry

Joseph John Gerry, O.S.B., (born September 12, 1928) is an American Benedictine monk and prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B.
Bishop Emeritus of Portland
Abbot Emeritus of Saint Anselm Abbey
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseBoston
DiocesePortland
AppointedDecember 21, 1988
InstalledFebruary 21, 1989
Term endedFebruary 10, 2004
PredecessorEdward Cornelius O'Leary
SuccessorRichard Joseph Malone
Orders
OrdinationJune 12, 1954
by Matthew Francis Brady
ConsecrationApril 21, 1986
by Odore Joseph Gendron, Ernest John Primeau, and Robert Edward Mulvee
Personal details
Born (1928-09-12) September 12, 1928
Millinocket, Maine
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester (1986–1988)
Styles of
Joseph John Gerry
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Gerry served as the third abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester in 1986. He served as the Bishop of Portland from 1989 to 2004.

Early life

Gerry was born in Millinocket, Maine in 1928. In 1945, he graduated from George W. Stearns High School in Millinocket. Gerry then entered Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Gerry then obtained his novitiate at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. On July 2, 1948, he made his profession of religious vows as a monk at St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire. [1]

In 1959, Gerry graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Anselm College. He then returned to the abbey to complete four more years of theological studies.[1]

Priestly ministry

On June 12, 1954, Gerry was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Matthew Francis Brady, at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Manchester, New Hampshire.[2] In 1955, Gerry earned a Master of Arts in philosophy from the University of Toronto.

From 1958 to 1986, Gerry was professor of philosophy and humanities at Saint Anselm College. In 1959, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Fordham University[3]That same year, Gerry was appointed subprior of St. Anselm Abby. In 1963, he was elevated to prior and on January 6, 1972 became abbot. At Saint Anselm College, he also served as academic dean (1971–72) and chancellor (1972–1986).[1]

Episcopal ministry

Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester

On February 4, 1986, Pope John Paul II appointed Gerry Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester and Titular Bishop of Praecausa. He received his episcopal consecration on April 21 1986 from Bishop Odore Joseph Gendron, with Bishops Ernest John Primeau and Robert Edward Mulvee serving as co-consecrators.[1]

In February 1988 Gerry was elected chairman of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs in the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.[1]

Bishop of Portland

On December 27, 1988, John Paul II named Gerry the tenth Bishop of Portland, Maine. Gerry was installed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on February 21, 1989.[2]

In February 1989, Gerry published his book, Ever Present Lord.[1]

During his 15-year-long tenure, Gerry published a pastoral letter approximately once a year, treating such topics as vocations to the ministry, the sacrament of Confirmation, and human sexuality. He consolidated Maine parishes in Old Town, Lisbon, and Waterville. Gerry publicly opposed partial-birth abortion and physician-assisted suicide in state referenda in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Gerry opened St. Dominic Regional High School in 2002.[4]

On March 9, 2002 Gerry removed two priests from ministry in the diocese. The two men, Michael Doucette and John Audibert, had admitted to sexually abusing different boys during the 1980's. Gerry said that the men would not be transferred to other parishes.[5]On February 4, 2004, Gerry advised the Maine Legislature not to legalize same sex marriage, calling it a violation of "natural law".[6]

On reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Gerry submitted his letter of resignation to John Paul II in September 2003.[7] His resignation was accepted on February 10, 2004, and he was succeeded by Richard Joseph Malone.[2]

Gerry then retired to Saint Anselm Abbey. After returning to the Abbey he briefly served as Novice Master for the community, supervising and guiding the novice monks in their formation. [7]

See also


References
  1. "Most Rev. Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
  2. "Bishop Joseph John Gerry, O.S.B." Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. "Pope Accepts Resignations of Bishop Gerry of Portland and Auxiliary Bishop Wirz of Madison; Bishop Richard Malone Named to Maine Diocese". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2004-02-10.
  4. "History of the Portland Diocese". Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
  5. "Portland, Maine, Diocese Removes Two Priests Who Admitted Sex Abuse of Minors". Associated Press. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  6. "Bishop: State shouldn't OK gay marriage". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2004-02-04. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  7. "Our Bishops". Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27.

Episcopal succession
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