Edward John Harper
Edward John Harper, C.SS.R. (July 23, 1910—December 2, 1990) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands (1977-85).
Harper was born in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York.[1] A former accountant,[1] he was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (more commonly known as the Redemptorists) on June 18, 1939.[2] He served for many years in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the Virgin Islands.[1]
On July 23, 1960, Harper was appointed the first Prelate of the newly-erected Prelature of Virgin Islands and Titular Bishop of Heraclea Pontica by Pope John XXIII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 6 from Bishop Bryan Joseph McEntegart, with Bishops William Tibertus McCarty and James Edward McManus serving as co-consecrators, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Brooklyn.[2]
Upon the elevation of his prelature to the Diocese of St. Thomas, Harper was named its first Bishop on April 20, 1977.[2] After twenty-five years in the Virgin Islands, he retired on October 16, 1985. He later died at age 80.[2]
References
- ^ a b c "First Bishop Elevated For the Virgin Islands". The New York Times. 1960-10-07.
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Edward John Harper, C.SS.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org.