John Aloysius Ward
Encyclopedia
John Aloysius Ward was a Roman Catholic
clergyman. He became Bishop of Menevia
in 1981, and Archbishop of Cardiff
in 1983. The later years of his ministry were overshadowed by cases of sexual misconduct by priests
under his authority, and Pope John Paul II
ordered him to resign as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff in October 2001 after his position became untenable.
Ward was born in Leeds
, England
, but considered himself a Welshman
. He was raised in Wrexham
, where he was known as Jackie Ward during his childhood and where he served as an altarboy
at St. Mary's, Wrexham
. During the Second World War
, he attended Prior Park College
in Bath, run by the Christian Brothers
. In 1946, he joined the Capuchin Order
of Friars Minor at Pantasaph
, near Holywell
in Clwyd
.
He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop of Southwark Cyril Cowderoy at Our Lady of Seven Dolours in Peckham
on 7 June 1953. From then until he became a Bishop, he was popularly known as 'Father Aloysius' to his congregations. He worked in north and mid Wales from 1954 to 1960, using his fluent Welsh
on his travelling mission. He became parish priest in Peckham in 1960. He was Minister Provincial of the Capuchins of Great Britain in 1969, and became an elected adviser to the Father General of the Capuchin Order in Rome
in 1970.
Ward was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
Menevia on 25 July 1980, in south and west Wales, and consecrated
on 1 October 1980. He succeeded Langton Douglas Fox
as Bishop on 5 February 1981. He was appointed Archbishop of Cardiff
on 25 March 1983. He built on the work of his predecessor, Archbishop John Murphy
, in expanding the Catholic Church in Wales.
by priests under his authority. There were also posthumous allegations of abuse
against Ward.
Roman Catholicism in Great Britain
Roman Catholicism in the United Kingdom refers to the practice of Roman Catholicism in Great Britain and Ireland since the creation of the United Kingdom....
clergyman. He became Bishop of Menevia
Bishop of Menevia
The Bishop of Menevia is the Ordinary of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia in the Province of Cardiff.The Diocese of Menevia covers an area of roughly consisting of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, the City and County of Swansea and the ancient counties...
in 1981, and Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop of Cardiff
The Archbishop of Cardiff is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.The archdiocese covers an area of and spans the historic counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and eastern Glamorganshire...
in 1983. The later years of his ministry were overshadowed by cases of sexual misconduct by priests
Roman Catholic sex abuse cases
The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. These cases began receiving public attention beginning in the mid-1980s...
under his authority, and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
ordered him to resign as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff in October 2001 after his position became untenable.
Ward was born in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but considered himself a Welshman
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He was raised in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, where he was known as Jackie Ward during his childhood and where he served as an altarboy
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
at St. Mary's, Wrexham
Wrexham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows also known as Wrexham Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the seat of the Bishop of Wrexham, and mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham.-History:...
. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he attended Prior Park College
Prior Park College
Prior Park College is a Roman Catholic co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils.It is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Bath, in Somerset, in south-west England...
in Bath, run by the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. In 1946, he joined the Capuchin Order
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
of Friars Minor at Pantasaph
Pantasaph
Pantasaph is a small village in Flintshire, north-east Wales, two miles south of Holywell. It is notable for its large Franciscan Retreat Centre on the main street....
, near Holywell
Holywell
Holywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
in Clwyd
Clwyd
Clwyd is a preserved county of Wales, situated in the north-east, bordering England with Cheshire to its east, Shropshire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Gwynedd to its immediate west and Powys to the south. It additionally shares a maritime border with the metropolitan county of...
.
He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
to 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....
by Bishop of Southwark Cyril Cowderoy at Our Lady of Seven Dolours in Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
on 7 June 1953. From then until he became a Bishop, he was popularly known as 'Father Aloysius' to his congregations. He worked in north and mid Wales from 1954 to 1960, using his fluent Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
on his travelling mission. He became parish priest in Peckham in 1960. He was Minister Provincial of the Capuchins of Great Britain in 1969, and became an elected adviser to the Father General of the Capuchin Order in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1970.
Ward was appointed 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...
Menevia on 25 July 1980, in south and west Wales, and consecrated
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 1 October 1980. He succeeded Langton Douglas Fox
Langton Douglas Fox
Langton Douglas Fox was an Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Menevia from 1972 to 1981.Born in Golders Green, London on 21 February 1917, he was ordained to the priesthood on 30 May 1942. He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Menevia and Titular Bishop of Maura on 18 October 1965...
as Bishop on 5 February 1981. He was appointed Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop of Cardiff
The Archbishop of Cardiff is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.The archdiocese covers an area of and spans the historic counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and eastern Glamorganshire...
on 25 March 1983. He built on the work of his predecessor, Archbishop John Murphy
John Aloysius Murphy
John Aloysius Murphy was a Roman Catholic Church prelate who served firstly as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1949 to 1961, then as the Archbishop of Cardiff from 1961 to 1983....
, in expanding the Catholic Church in Wales.
Abuse scandal
The later years of his ministry were overshadowed by cases of sexual misconductSexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
by priests under his authority. There were also posthumous allegations of abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
against Ward.