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John Baptist Pitaval

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John Baptist Pitaval
Archbishop of Santa Fe
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseSanta Fe
AppointedFebruary 1, 1909
RetiredJuly 29, 1918
PredecessorPeter Bourgade
SuccessorAlbert Daeger
Other post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Santa Fe (1902-1909)
Orders
OrdinationDecember 24, 1881
by Joseph Projectus Machebeuf
ConsecrationJuly 25, 1902
by Peter Bourgade
Personal details
Born(1858-02-10)February 10, 1858
DiedMay 23, 1928(1928-05-23) (aged 70)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.

John Baptist Pitaval (February 10, 1858 – May 23, 1928) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Santa Fe from 1909 to 1918.

Early life and education

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Pitaval was born on February 10, 1858, in Saint-Genis-Terrenoir to Jean Claude and Mariette (née Pugnet) Pitaval.[1][2] He made his preliminary studies for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Lyon, where he was ordained a subdeacon.[3]

Pitaval accepted an invitation from Bishop Joseph Projectus Machebeuf to join the Diocese of Denver, arriving in the United States in June 1881.[3] He completed his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was ordained a deacon by Archbishop James Gibbons.[3]

Priesthood

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Pitaval was ordained a priest on December 24, 1881, by Bishop Machebeuf at the chapel of St. Mary's Academy in Denver.[4] Along with Robert Servant, he was one of the first two Catholic priests ordained in Colorado.[5]

Pitaval engaged in missionary work for the next 21 years. He first served in the San Luis Valley, traveling the valley on horseback and supporting himself by selling livestock.[5] In 1890, he was transferred to St. Paul's Church in Aspen, where he built a combination church and school building.[5] He was appointed to St. Columba Church at Durango in March 1902, remaining there only for a few months.[3]

Bishop in Santa Fe

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On May 14, 1902, Pitaval was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and titular bishop of Sora by Pope Leo XIII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 25 from Archbishop Peter Bourgade, with Bishops Nicholas Chrysostom Matz and Henry Regis Granjon serving as co-consecrators.[4]

Pitaval served as an auxiliary bishop for seven years and, following the death of Archbishop Bourgade, he was appointed by Pope Pius X to succeed him as Archbishop of Santa Fe on February 1, 1909.[4] His appointment was praised by Governor George Curry, who sent a message of thanks to Rome.[6]

At the beginning of Pitaval's tenure in 1909, the archdiocese contained 127,000 Catholics, 65 priests, 45 parishes, 340 missions, 12 parochial schools, and three hospitals.[7] Following his retirement nine years later, there were over 140,000 Catholics, 80 priests, 46 parishes, 356 missions, 26 parochial schools, and five hospitals.[8] Among the institutions he founded were St. Anthony's Orphanage at Albuquerque and St. Mary's Hospital at Gallup.[5] He also erected a bronze statue of Jean-Baptiste Lamy, Santa Fe's first archbishop, outside the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi.[5]

Later life and death

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Pitaval resigned as Archbishop of Santa Fe on July 29, 1918, citing his poor health and desire for a new generation of leadership.[9] He was given the honorary title of titular archbishop of Amida by Pope Benedict XV.[4] He retired to Colorado, residing at St. Anthony Hospital and briefly serving as a chaplain there.[5]

Pitaval died from complications with Bright's disease, diabetes, and heart disease at St. Anthony Hospital on May 23, 1928, at age 70.[5] He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

References

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  1. ^ Sheehan, Michael J., ed. (1998). Four Hundred Years of Faith: Seeds of Struggle, Harvest of Faith; A History of the Catholic Church in New Mexico. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
  2. ^ "Lozère Archives". Filae.com.(registration required)
  3. ^ a b c d "Diocese of Denver". Intermountain Catholic. July 12, 1902.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Archbishop John Baptist Pitaval". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "ARCHBISHOP JOHN BAPTIST PITAVAL DIES IN DENVER". Denver Catholic Register. May 24, 1928.
  6. ^ "Missionary Notes and News". Catholic Missions. III (III): 91. May 1909.
  7. ^ The Official Catholic Directory and Clergy List. Milwaukee: M. H. Wiltzius. 1909. p. 211.
  8. ^ The Official Catholic Directory. New York: P. J. Kenedy. 1919. p. 223.
  9. ^ "Resignation of an Archbishop". The Tablet. July 20, 1918.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Santa Fe
1909–1918
Succeeded by