Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves (May 4, 1916—January 15, 1994) was the seventh Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana
(1973-1982).
Graves was born in Texarkana
, Arkansas
, and attended St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock
. He then studied at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
, and at the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
He was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 11, 1942.
On February 24, 1969, Graves was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Little Rock and Titular Bishop
of Vina by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following April 25 from Bishop Albert Lewis Fletcher
, with Bishops Lawrence Michael De Falco
and Warren L. Boudreaux serving as co-consecrators
. Following the retirement of Bishop Charles Pasquale Greco
, Graves was named Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana
on May 10, 1973. During his tenure, he was established or improved continuing education for priests, offices for religious education and youth ministry, permanent diaconate
program, and the communications apostolate in newspaper, radio, and television. The name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1976.
After nine years at Louisiana, Graves resigned as bishop on July 20, 1982. He later died at age 77.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
The Diocese of Alexandria is the Roman Catholic diocese for central Louisiana, based in Alexandria, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral...
(1973-1982).
Graves was born in Texarkana
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and attended St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. He then studied 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...
, and at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
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....
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 11, 1942.
On February 24, 1969, Graves 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 Little Rock 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 Vina by 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...
. 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 April 25 from Bishop Albert Lewis Fletcher
Albert Lewis Fletcher
Albert Lewis Fletcher was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Little Rock from 1946 to 1972.-Biography:...
, with Bishops Lawrence Michael De Falco
Lawrence Michael De Falco
Lawrence Michael DeFalco was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Amarillo from 1963 to 1979.-Biography:...
and Warren L. Boudreaux 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...
. Following the retirement of Bishop Charles Pasquale Greco
Charles Pasquale Greco
Charles Pasquale Greco was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1946 to 1973.-Biography:...
, Graves was named Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana
Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
The Diocese of Alexandria is the Roman Catholic diocese for central Louisiana, based in Alexandria, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral...
on May 10, 1973. During his tenure, he was established or improved continuing education for priests, offices for religious education and youth ministry, permanent diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
program, and the communications apostolate in newspaper, radio, and television. The name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1976.
After nine years at Louisiana, Graves resigned as bishop on July 20, 1982. He later died at age 77.