Joseph Thomas McGucken
Encyclopedia
Joseph Thomas McGucken was an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Sacramento
(1957-62) and Archbishop of San Francisco
(1962-77).
, California
, to Joseph A. and Mary Agnes (née Flynn) McGucken. He attended Polytechnic High School
in his native city. He studied engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles
for two years before beginning his studies for the priesthood
at St. Patrick's Seminary
in Menlo Park
. He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
, from where he obtained a Doctor of Divinity
degree in 1928. While in Rome, he was ordained
a priest on January 15, 1928.
Following his return to Los Angeles, he served as secretary to Archbishop John Joseph Cantwell
from 1929 to 1938. He was named a papal chamberlain
by Pope Pius XI
in 1937, and served as chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
from 1938 to 1948. He was raised to the rank of domestic prelate
in 1939. On February 4, 1941, McGucken was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Los Angeles and Titular Bishop
of Sanavus by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following March 19 from Archbishop Cantwell, with Bishops Daniel James Gercke
and Philip George Scher
serving as co-consecrators
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor
at St. Andrew's Church
in Pasadena
(1944-55) and vicar general
of the archdiocese (1948-55).
After 27 years as a priest and bishop in Los Angeles, he was transferred to Sacramento, California
in October 1955 to serve as Coadjutor Bishop
of Sacramento. The St. Andrew's parish gave Bishop McGucken a gala farewell celebration at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with a performance by Dennis Day
, several choirs, and an Army color guard. He was appointed the Bishop of Sacramento in January 1957. His episcopate in Sacramento lasted until 1962, and in his five years as Bishop, he authorized, built or approved for development nine parishes, three high schools, 33 new church buildings and one minor seminary.
After the 1961 death of Archbishop John J. Mitty, Pope John XXIII divided the Archdiocese of San Francisco and in early 1962 created the suffragan sees of Oakland
, Stockton
and Santa Rosa.
McGucken's former classmate from the Pontifical North American College, Floyd L. Begin the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, was named by Pope John XXIII, the first bishop of Oakland. Auxiliary bishop of San Francisco, Hugh A. Donohoe was appointed by John XXIII, first Bishop of Stockton. Chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Monsignor Leo T. Maher was elevated to episcopal rank by John XXIII, then, appointed the first bishop of Santa Rosa.
In February 1962, McGucken was appointed Archbishop of San Francisco
; he was installed on April 3, 1962. He served 15 years as the Archbishop of San Francisco, retiring in 1977. During his first year as Archbishop, the existing St. Mary's Cathedral, built in 1891, was destroyed by fire. Archbishop McGucken gathered his consultor
s to begin the process of planning and constructing a new cathedral
.
Architectural critic Allen Temko advocated a bold, new cathedral that would reflect San Francisco's status as a major international urban center. Archbishop McGucken added two internationally known architects to his team, Italian-born Pietro Belluschi, Dean of the School of Architecture of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, who was placed in charge of designs, and Pier-Luigi Nervi, an engineering genius from Rome
, who took over structural concerns. Archbishop McGucken was in Rome for the Second Vatican Council
while the new cathedral was designed.
The strikingly modern design which was presented was met with high praise and has been called the "first cathedral truly of our time and in harmony with the liturgical reforms of the Council." Some gave the new cathedral the nicknames, "Our Lady of Maytag" or "McGucken's Maytag" due to the structure's uncanny resemblance to a washing machine agitator.
In 1966, McGucken publicly voiced his support for the efforts of Cesar Chávez
to organize farmworkers in California's vineyards, leading one vineyard spokesman to warn that "the Church leaders had better start looking for other financial means to carry out their radical theories."
McGucken retired in 1977 and assumed the title of Archbishop Emeritus and died in October 1983. He is buried in the Archbishops' Crypt at Holy Cross Cemetery
in Colma, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman 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 Sacramento
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States...
(1957-62) and Archbishop of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
(1962-77).
Biography
Joseph McGucken was born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to Joseph A. and Mary Agnes (née Flynn) McGucken. He attended Polytechnic High School
John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
John H. Francis Polytechnic High School is a secondary school located in the Sun Valley area of Los Angeles, California. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District...
in his native city. He studied engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
for two years before beginning his studies 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. Patrick's Seminary
Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park
Saint Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California is a Roman Catholic post-graduate seminary whose primary mission is the formation of clergy for Western and Pacific Rim dioceses, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes...
in Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
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...
, from where he obtained a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree in 1928. While in Rome, 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....
a priest on January 15, 1928.
Following his return to Los Angeles, he served as secretary to Archbishop John Joseph Cantwell
John Joseph Cantwell
John Joseph Cantwell was the first archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.Archbishop Cantwell was born in Limerick, Ireland. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on June 18, 1899 and was initially assigned as curate of Berkeley's St. Joseph The Worker...
from 1929 to 1938. He was named a papal chamberlain
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
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...
in 1937, and served as chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
from 1938 to 1948. He was raised to the rank of domestic prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1939. On February 4, 1941, McGucken 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 Los Angeles 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 Sanavus by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. 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 March 19 from Archbishop Cantwell, with Bishops Daniel James Gercke
Daniel James Gercke
Daniel James Gercke was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Tucson from 1923 to 1960.-Biography:...
and Philip George Scher
Philip George Scher
Philip George Scher was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Monterey-Fresno from 1933 until his death in 1953.-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...
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he 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"....
at St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Pasadena
St. Andrew's Catholic Church is a Catholic church in Pasadena, California. Founded in the 1880s, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Pasadena and one of the oldest in Los Angeles County. Its Romanesque campanile bell tower is visible for miles and is one of the landmarks of Pasadena. The current...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
(1944-55) and 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...
of the archdiocese (1948-55).
After 27 years as a priest and bishop in Los Angeles, he was transferred to Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
in October 1955 to serve as 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...
of Sacramento. The St. Andrew's parish gave Bishop McGucken a gala farewell celebration at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with a performance by Dennis Day
Dennis Day
Dennis Day born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, was an Irish-American singer and radio, television and film personality.-Early life:...
, several choirs, and an Army color guard. He was appointed the Bishop of Sacramento in January 1957. His episcopate in Sacramento lasted until 1962, and in his five years as Bishop, he authorized, built or approved for development nine parishes, three high schools, 33 new church buildings and one minor seminary.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Northern California. The diocese comprises Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, Stockton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Central Valley and Mother Lode region of California in the United States. It comprises the Counties of Alpine, Calaveras, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne...
and Santa Rosa.
McGucken's former classmate from the Pontifical North American College, Floyd L. Begin the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, was named by Pope John XXIII, the first bishop of Oakland. Auxiliary bishop of San Francisco, Hugh A. Donohoe was appointed by John XXIII, first Bishop of Stockton. Chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Monsignor Leo T. Maher was elevated to episcopal rank by John XXIII, then, appointed the first bishop of Santa Rosa.
In February 1962, McGucken was appointed Archbishop of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco is the Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, the Roman Catholic Church in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties in California, the United States...
; he was installed on April 3, 1962. He served 15 years as the Archbishop of San Francisco, retiring in 1977. During his first year as Archbishop, the existing St. Mary's Cathedral, built in 1891, was destroyed by fire. Archbishop McGucken gathered his consultor
Consultor
A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e. a counselor.In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions:*in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired by a department...
s to begin the process of planning and constructing a new cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.
Architectural critic Allen Temko advocated a bold, new cathedral that would reflect San Francisco's status as a major international urban center. Archbishop McGucken added two internationally known architects to his team, Italian-born Pietro Belluschi, Dean of the School of Architecture of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, who was placed in charge of designs, and Pier-Luigi Nervi, an engineering genius from 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...
, who took over structural concerns. Archbishop McGucken was in Rome for the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
while the new cathedral was designed.
The strikingly modern design which was presented was met with high praise and has been called the "first cathedral truly of our time and in harmony with the liturgical reforms of the Council." Some gave the new cathedral the nicknames, "Our Lady of Maytag" or "McGucken's Maytag" due to the structure's uncanny resemblance to a washing machine agitator.
In 1966, McGucken publicly voiced his support for the efforts of Cesar Chávez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
to organize farmworkers in California's vineyards, leading one vineyard spokesman to warn that "the Church leaders had better start looking for other financial means to carry out their radical theories."
McGucken retired in 1977 and assumed the title of Archbishop Emeritus and died in October 1983. He is buried in the Archbishops' Crypt at Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery may refer to:*Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan, USA...
in Colma, California
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
.