Edward John Herrmann
Encyclopedia
Edward John Herrmann was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Columbus
from 1973 to 1982.
, on November 6, 1913, the son of Episcopalian
parents, Walter E. and Jennie Doyle Herrmann, who owned a small grocery store. His father died in the 1918 flu pandemic and young Edward was baptized a Catholic in 1919.
Herrmann attended St. Bernard and St. James grade schools, graduated from Loyola High School
in Baltimore in 1931, and then went to work for the American Oil Company
in Baltimore to help support his family during the Great Depression
.
After studies at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
, Herrmann was ordained a priest on June 12, 1947, in Baltimore’s Cathedral of the Assumption
by Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop
John Michael McNamara
. He was destined for the nascent Archdiocese of Washington, DC
, where he served as pastor and assistant chancellor
. Pope Paul VI
appointed Herrmann Auxiliary Bishop and Washington Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle ordained him bishop on April 26, 1966 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral
in Washington. He became vicar general
and chancellor of the archdiocese.
Herrmann was appointed Bishop of Columbus, Ohio
on June 26, 1973 by Pope Paul VI and installed as its ninth bishop on August 21, 1973. He served until he resigned at 68 on September 18, 1982, remaining diocesan administrator until April 25, 1983, when Bishop James A. Griffin
succeeded him.
In retirement, Bishop Herrmann resided at St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home
in Avondale, Maryland
. He returned to Columbus in November 1991 to serve as priest and Bishop Emeritus
of the diocese. He died as Bishop Emeritus of Columbus on December 22, 1999 and was buried in the crypt of St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus.
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 Columbus
Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati covering 23 counties in Ohio. The episcopal see of the diocese is situated at Columbus, Ohio. The diocese was erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX out of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati...
from 1973 to 1982.
Biography
Herrmann was born in Baltimore, MarylandBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, on November 6, 1913, the son of Episcopalian
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
parents, Walter E. and Jennie Doyle Herrmann, who owned a small grocery store. His father died in the 1918 flu pandemic and young Edward was baptized a Catholic in 1919.
Herrmann attended St. Bernard and St. James grade schools, graduated from Loyola High School
Loyola Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield is a Catholic, college preparatory school established by the Society of Jesus, to educate men for others. The ideal Loyola graduate is a man of integrity who, because he strives "to find God in all things," is open to growth, dedicated to academic excellence, religious, committed...
in Baltimore in 1931, and then went to work for the American Oil Company
Amoco
Amoco Corporation, originally Standard Oil Company , was a global chemical and oil company, founded in 1889 around a refinery located in Whiting, Indiana, United States....
in Baltimore to help support his family during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
After studies at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Emmitsburg, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
, Herrmann was ordained a priest on June 12, 1947, in Baltimore’s Cathedral of the Assumption
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica, was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States, and was the first major religious building constructed in the nation after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution...
by Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
John Michael McNamara
John Michael McNamara
John Michael McNamara was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and of the Archdiocese of Washington .-Biography:...
. He was destined for the nascent Archdiocese of Washington, DC
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
, where he served as pastor and assistant chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
. Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed Herrmann Auxiliary Bishop and Washington Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle ordained him bishop on April 26, 1966 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., most commonly known as St. Matthew's Cathedral, is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. As St...
in Washington. He became vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
and chancellor of the archdiocese.
Herrmann was appointed Bishop of Columbus, Ohio
Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati covering 23 counties in Ohio. The episcopal see of the diocese is situated at Columbus, Ohio. The diocese was erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX out of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati...
on June 26, 1973 by Pope Paul VI and installed as its ninth bishop on August 21, 1973. He served until he resigned at 68 on September 18, 1982, remaining diocesan administrator until April 25, 1983, when Bishop James A. Griffin
James Anthony Griffin
James Anthony Griffin is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Columbus from 1983 to 2004.-Biography:...
succeeded him.
In retirement, Bishop Herrmann resided at St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home
St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home
St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home is administered by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. It is located at 4901 Eastern Avenue in Avondale, Maryland...
in Avondale, Maryland
Avondale, Maryland
Avondale is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. For statistical purposes, it is part of the Chillum census-designated place .-History:...
. He returned to Columbus in November 1991 to serve as priest and Bishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of the diocese. He died as Bishop Emeritus of Columbus on December 22, 1999 and was buried in the crypt of St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus.