Joseph Keith Symons
Encyclopedia
Joseph Keith Symons is a bishop
in the Catholic Church in the United States
. He served as auxiliary bishop
of the Diocese of St. Petersburg from 1981–1983, as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
from 1983–1990 and the second bishop of Diocese of Palm Beach
from 1990-1998.
, Michigan
on October 14, 1932. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine
in Florida
on May 18, 1958.
Symons was named the Titular Bishop
of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop St. Petersburg in Florida by Blessed John Paul II on January 16, 1981. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop William Thomas Larkin
of St. Petersburg on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward Anthony McCarthy of Miami
and Thomas Joseph McDonough
of Louisville
were the co-consecrators.
Bishop Symons was transferred to the See of Pensacola-Tallahassee on October 4, 1981 and installed as the second bishop of the diocese on November 8, 1983. He was then transferred to the See of Palm Beach in Florida on June 12, 1990 and installed as the second bishop of that diocese on July 31, 1990. Symons resigned as bishop of Palm Beach on June 6, 1998 after it was learned that he had sexually abused five teens when he was a priest.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the Catholic Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as 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 the Diocese of St. Petersburg from 1981–1983, as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida; it was founded on October 1, 1975. The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee is the pastor of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart located in Pensacola, Florida...
from 1983–1990 and the second bishop of Diocese of Palm Beach
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on June 16, 1984.The past bishops of the diocese are:#Thomas Vose Daily #Joseph Keith Symons...
from 1990-1998.
Biography
Symons was born in Champion TownshipChampion Township, Michigan
Champion Township is a civil township of Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 297.-Geography:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on October 14, 1932. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine
The Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is a diocese of the Catholic Church's Latin Church in the U.S. state of Florida. Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, it covers much of North Florida, including the cities of St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Gainesville. The bishop's seat is the...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on May 18, 1958.
Symons was named the 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 Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop St. Petersburg in Florida by Blessed John Paul II on January 16, 1981. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop William Thomas Larkin
William Thomas Larkin
William Thomas Larkin was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida....
of St. Petersburg on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward Anthony McCarthy of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
and Thomas Joseph McDonough
Thomas Joseph McDonough
Thomas Joseph McDonough was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Savannah, Georgia and Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky .-Early life and ministry:...
of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
were the co-consecrators.
Bishop Symons was transferred to the See of Pensacola-Tallahassee on October 4, 1981 and installed as the second bishop of the diocese on November 8, 1983. He was then transferred to the See of Palm Beach in Florida on June 12, 1990 and installed as the second bishop of that diocese on July 31, 1990. Symons resigned as bishop of Palm Beach on June 6, 1998 after it was learned that he had sexually abused five teens when he was a priest.