John Joseph Swint
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Swint was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Wheeling
from 1922 until his death in 1962.
, West Virginia
, to Peter and Caroline (née Winkler) Swint, who were immigrants from Central Europe
. He studied at St. Charles College
in Ellicott City
, Maryland
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1899. He then enrolled at St. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore, later earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
in 1904. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 23, 1904. After studying at the Apostolic Mission House in Washington, D.C.
for a year, he returned to West Virginia and served as pastor
of St. Patrick Church in Hinton
(1905-1908). He was also head of the Diocesan Apostolate (1908-1914) and pastor of St. Patrick Church in Weston
(1914-1922).
On February 22, 1922, Swint was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Wheeling
and Titular Bishop
of Sura by Pope Pius XI
. He was one of the first U.S. appointments of Pius XI, who was elected
on the previous February 6. He received his episcopal
consecration
on May 11, 1922 from Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley
, with Bishops Denis J. O'Connell
and Hugh Charles Boyle
serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Joseph's Cathedral
. Following the death of Bishop Patrick James Donahue
, Swint was named the fourth Bishop of Wheeling
on December 11, 1922. Swint was given the personal title of Archbishop
by Pope Piux XII in 1954.
In 1948, Swint took credit for the withdrawal of two or three girls withdrawing from the Miss America
pageant when he threated any Catholic contestant with excommunication claiming the pageant was "pagan" and claiming that if "nakedness" were removed from the pageant, it would "fall to pieces". One contestant, Mariruth Ford, defied the ban, participated in the pageant and was excommunicated.
Nicknamed "God's Bricklayer," he established twenty-five parishes, seven missions, two hospitals, two nursing homes, Sacred Heart Children's Home, Catholic Charities
, and Wheeling College
. He held the seventh (1923) and eighth (1933) diocesan synod
s. He laid the cornerstone
for a new cathedral in May 1924, later dedicating the structure in April 1926. He also invited the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, the Sisters of St. Joseph
, and the Pallottine Missionary Sisters into the diocese. He was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
in 1929. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee
of his priestly ordination, he was given the personal title of Archbishop
on March 12, 1954. He authored The Moral Law (1933), The Parables of the Kingdom (1934), The Bread from Heaven (1935), Christ the Organizer of the Church (1936), Back to Christ (1940), Forgotten Truths (1940), and The Sweetest Story Ever Told (1947).
Swint later died at age 82.
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 Wheeling
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the state of West Virginia. It is a conjoined diocese with two centers of worship, one day expected to be split into two separate...
from 1922 until his death in 1962.
Biography
One of nine children, John Swint was born in PickensPickens, West Virginia
Pickens is an unincorporated census-designated place in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. Pickens is west-southwest of Huttonsville. It is the home of the Cunningham-Roberts Museum. Pickens has a post office with ZIP code 26230. As of the 2010 census, its population was 66....
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, to Peter and Caroline (née Winkler) Swint, who were immigrants from Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. He studied at St. Charles College
St. Charles College, Maryland
St. Charles College was a seminary college in Catonsville, Maryland, originally from Ellicott City, Maryland.- 1776:Charles Carroll of Carrollton signs the Declaration of Independence for Maryland. One of the wealthiest men in the Americas, Carroll staked his fortune on the American Revolution...
in Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1899. He then enrolled at St. Mary's Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore, later earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
in 1904. He was ordained
Holy 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....
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....
on June 23, 1904. After studying at the Apostolic Mission House in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
for a year, he returned to West Virginia and served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Patrick Church in Hinton
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
(1905-1908). He was also head of the Diocesan Apostolate (1908-1914) and pastor of St. Patrick Church in Weston
Weston, West Virginia
Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County, and home to the West Virginia Museum of American Glass.-History:...
(1914-1922).
On February 22, 1922, Swint was appointed 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...
of Wheeling
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the state of West Virginia. It is a conjoined diocese with two centers of worship, one day expected to be split into two separate...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sura 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 was one of the first U.S. appointments of Pius XI, who was elected
Papal conclave, 1922
After a reign of just eight years, Pope Benedict XV died on 22 January 1922 of pneumonia. At his death there were 61 members of the College of Cardinals. However, later that same day, Enrique Almaraz y Santos, the Archbishop of Toledo, died, leaving a college of 60 cardinals to elect Pope...
on the previous February 6. 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 May 11, 1922 from Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley
Michael Joseph Curley
Michael Joseph Curley was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. Originally a priest and bishop in the Diocese of St...
, with Bishops Denis J. O'Connell
Denis J. O'Connell
Bishop Denis J. O'Connell was an Irish Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Richmond in Virginia. He was born in Donoughmore, Ireland. He was ordained a priest in 1877 in Richmond at the age of 28, after studies in Rome at the Pontifical North American College. After serving as assistant to...
and Hugh Charles Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1921 until his death in 1950.-Biography:...
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...
, at St. Joseph's Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Joseph of Wheeling
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph of Wheeling or Saint Joseph's Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. In addition to being the seat of the bishop, the cathedral is home to the oldest congregation in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia.-History:The...
. Following the death of Bishop Patrick James Donahue
Patrick James Donahue
Patrick James Donahue was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wheeling from 1894 until his death in 1922....
, Swint was named the fourth Bishop of Wheeling
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the state of West Virginia. It is a conjoined diocese with two centers of worship, one day expected to be split into two separate...
on December 11, 1922. Swint was given the personal title of Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
by Pope Piux XII in 1954.
In 1948, Swint took credit for the withdrawal of two or three girls withdrawing from the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant when he threated any Catholic contestant with excommunication claiming the pageant was "pagan" and claiming that if "nakedness" were removed from the pageant, it would "fall to pieces". One contestant, Mariruth Ford, defied the ban, participated in the pageant and was excommunicated.
Nicknamed "God's Bricklayer," he established twenty-five parishes, seven missions, two hospitals, two nursing homes, Sacred Heart Children's Home, Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
, and Wheeling College
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling Jesuit University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic university in the United States. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, it was founded as Wheeling College in 1954 by the Society of Jesus . Today, Wheeling Jesuit University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of...
. He held the seventh (1923) and eighth (1933) diocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s. He laid the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
for a new cathedral in May 1924, later dedicating the structure in April 1926. He also invited the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
, and the Pallottine Missionary Sisters into the diocese. He was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne is an ecclesiastical title in the Roman Catholic Church. It signifies a prelate belonging to the papal chapel, who stands near the throne of the Pope at solemn functions....
in 1929. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
of his priestly ordination, he was given the personal title of Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
on March 12, 1954. He authored The Moral Law (1933), The Parables of the Kingdom (1934), The Bread from Heaven (1935), Christ the Organizer of the Church (1936), Back to Christ (1940), Forgotten Truths (1940), and The Sweetest Story Ever Told (1947).
Swint later died at age 82.