Charles Hubert Le Blond
Encyclopedia
Charles Hubert Le Blond was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of St. Joseph
from 1933 to 1956.
, Ohio
, one of three children of Charles McGinley and Anne Marie (née Brennan) Le Blond. He belonged to a prominent political family in Ohio; his father was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from 1886 to 1890, and he was a grandson of Francis Celeste Le Blond
and a cousin of Frank Le Blond Kloeb
. At age five, he moved with his family to Cleveland, where he received his early education at the parochial school
of St. John's Cathedral
. He attended St. Ignatius High School for six years, graduating in 1903. He then studied for the priesthood
at St. Mary's Seminary, also in Cleveland.
a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland
on June 29, 1909. His first assignment was as a curate
at St. John's Cathedral, where he remained for two years. In 1911, he was named director of St. Anthony's Home for Boys. From 1912 to 1933, he served as the first diocesan director of Catholic Charities and Hospitals. During his tenure as director, he laid a foundation for the many charitable Catholic institutions in the diocese. In 1930, he was one of the delegates sent by the United States
to the Pan-American Conference on Child Welfare in Lima
, Peru
. He also represented the National Catholic Welfare Council
at the international conferences on social work in Paris
, France
(1928) and in Frankfurt, Germany
(1932).
, Missouri
, by Pope Pius XI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following September 21 from Bishop Joseph Schrembs
, with Bishops James A. McFadden
and Thomas Charles O'Reilly
serving as co-consecrators
. He took an interest in welfare work in the city, and was active in the annual Community Chest campaigns. During his tenure as bishop, the number of priests in the diocese increased by 30%, and the Catholic population of the diocese increased by more than 3,000. Due to his failing health, he received Bishop John Cody as a coadjutor bishop
in 1954 to manage the daily affairs of the diocese.
After governing the diocese for twenty-three years, Le Blond resigned as Bishop of St. Joseph on August 24, 1956. Following his resignation, the diocese was merged to create the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
. He later died at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Joseph, at age 75.
Bishop LeBlond High School
in St. Joseph is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of St. Joseph
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern part of the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on March 3, 1868, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. Its first bishop was...
from 1933 to 1956.
Early life and education
Charles Le Blond was born in CelinaCelina, Ohio
Celina is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 10,303 at the 2000 census. Celina is situated on the western shores of Grand Lake St. Marys.-History:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, one of three children of Charles McGinley and Anne Marie (née Brennan) Le Blond. He belonged to a prominent political family in Ohio; his father was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 1886 to 1890, and he was a grandson of Francis Celeste Le Blond
Francis Celeste Le Blond
Francis Celeste Le Blond was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio.Francis Celeste Le Blond was born in Bellville, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Celina, Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855...
and a cousin of Frank Le Blond Kloeb
Frank Le Blond Kloeb
Frank Le Blond Kloeb was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio.-Biography:Frank L. Kloeb was born in Celina, Ohio. He attended the parochial and public schools, Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
. At age five, he moved with his family to Cleveland, where he received his early education at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral, Cleveland
In the 1830s, Catholics started to arrive in the Western Reserve region of Ohio, United States, so the Archdiocese of Cincinnati sent priests up to the Northeast Ohio area to serve. The first parish in Cleveland was St. Mary's of the Flats. In 1847, Pope Pius IX established the Catholic Diocese of...
. He attended St. Ignatius High School for six years, graduating in 1903. He then studied for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
at St. Mary's Seminary, also in Cleveland.
Priesthood
Le Blond was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio. It was erected on April 23, 1847 by Pope Pius IX. The diocese lost territory in 1910 when the Diocese of Toledo was erected by Pope Pius X, and in 1943 when the Diocese of Youngstown was erected by Pope Pius XII...
on June 29, 1909. His first assignment was as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. John's Cathedral, where he remained for two years. In 1911, he was named director of St. Anthony's Home for Boys. From 1912 to 1933, he served as the first diocesan director of Catholic Charities and Hospitals. During his tenure as director, he laid a foundation for the many charitable Catholic institutions in the diocese. In 1930, he was one of the delegates sent by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the Pan-American Conference on Child Welfare in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. He also represented the National Catholic Welfare Council
National Catholic Welfare Council
The National Catholic Welfare Council was the annual meeting of the American Catholic hierarchy and its standing secretariat; it was established in 1919 as the successor to the emergency organization, the National Catholic War Council....
at the international conferences on social work in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(1928) and in Frankfurt, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1932).
Episcopacy
On July 21, 1933, Le Blond was appointed the fourth Bishop of St. JosephRoman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern part of the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on March 3, 1868, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. Its first bishop was...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following September 21 from Bishop Joseph Schrembs
Joseph Schrembs
Joseph Schrembs was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Toledo and Bishop of Cleveland .-Early life and education:...
, with Bishops James A. McFadden
James A. McFadden
James Augustine McFadden was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio .-Biography:...
and Thomas Charles O'Reilly
Thomas Charles O'Reilly
Thomas Charles O'Reilly was a Roman Catholic bishop.O'Reilly was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Patrick and Delia O'Reilly. After attending Spencerian Business College , he studied at St. Ignatius College and St. Mary's Seminary in Cleveland...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He took an interest in welfare work in the city, and was active in the annual Community Chest campaigns. During his tenure as bishop, the number of priests in the diocese increased by 30%, and the Catholic population of the diocese increased by more than 3,000. Due to his failing health, he received Bishop John Cody as a coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
in 1954 to manage the daily affairs of the diocese.
After governing the diocese for twenty-three years, Le Blond resigned as Bishop of St. Joseph on August 24, 1956. Following his resignation, the diocese was merged to create the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on September 10, 1880, as the Diocese of Kansas City, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. ...
. He later died at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Joseph, at age 75.
Bishop LeBlond High School
Bishop LeBlond High School
Bishop LeBlond High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Joseph, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph.-Background:...
in St. Joseph is named in his honor.