Patrick R. Cooney
Encyclopedia
Patrick Ronald Cooney is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the third Bishop of Gaylord
and currently hold the title Bishop Emeritus in that diocese.
, Michigan
, to Michael and Elizabeth (née Dowdall) Cooney. The oldest of four children, he has two sisters, Mary (a retired teacher
of the Detroit Public School System
) and Leontia (an Adrian Dominican
nun
), and one brother, Michael (a priest
of the Archdiocese of Detroit
).
Cooney attended St. Edward Elementary School from 1940 to 1948, and Sacred Heart Seminary High School from 1948 to 1952. He then studied at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
, from where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy
in 1956. He then furthered his studies in Rome
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
, earning a Bachelor's in Sacred Theology
in 1958.
to the priesthood by Bishop Martin J. O'Connor
on December 20, 1959. He later obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology
from the Gregorian in 1960. Upon his return to the United States
, he served as an assistant pastor
at St. Catherine Church
in Detroit (1960–1962), assistant chancellor
of the Archdiocese (1962–1969), and chaplain
at Mercy College
(1967–1972).
From 1969 to 1983, Cooney was director of the Archdiocesan Department of Worship. He also pursued his graduate work
at the University of Notre Dame
in Indiana
, and there earned a Master of Arts
degree in liturgical
research in 1973. He was named, in addition to his role as Director of Worship, rector
of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
in 1977.
of Detroit and Titular Bishop
of Hodelm by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on January 27, 1983 from Archbishop Edmund Szoka, with Bishops Harold Perry
, S.V.D.
, and Arthur Krawczak serving as co-consecrators
, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
In addition to his duties as an auxiliary bishop, Cooeney was the founding chairman
of the Archdiocese's Church in the City Task Force from 1983 to 1990. He also served as liaison to the Catholic Chaplain
s of Region VI (Michigan and Ohio
) from 1987 to 1991, and a member of Board of Directors for Notre Dame Liturgical Center (1987–1991) and for the Pontifical North American College
(1988–1994).
on November 6, 1989. He succeeded Robert John Rose
(who was appointed Bishop of Grand Rapids
in January 1989), and was formally installed
as Bishop on January 28, 1990. Thus far into his tenure, he has issued three pastoral letter
s: An Agenda for the Church in Gaylord (1991), The Sequence for the Celebration of the Sacarments of Initiation of Children in the Diocese of Gaylord (2001), and Catechesis: The Primary Goal of the Church (2006).
In 2002, Cooney allowed Rev. Gerald Shirilla to serve as pastor of a church with a school
, despite knowing that Shirilla had been removed from the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1993 following decades-long allegations of sexual abuse. After the Detroit Free Press
reported on the situation in 2003, he said that Shirilla had made "some errors in judgment" but was "no threat to the well-being of our children," only to suspend him two weeks later.
On January 5, 2008, Cooney suffered a heart attack
while preparing for an ordination
ceremony. He then underwent quadruple bypass surgery
at Munson Medical Center
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, Cooney has been a member of the Committee on Liturgy (1984–1996), Subcommittee of Bishops and Scholars (1988–1992), and National Advisory Council (1995–1998); and chairman of the Subcommittee on Use of Exclusive Language in Liturgy (1989–1991), Subcommittee on Book of Blessings (1989–1991), and Subcommittee on Cremation and Other Funeral Questions (1989–1993). He also co-chaired the Roman Catholic-Reformed Church
Dialogue Committee from 1998 to 2001. From 1993 to 1998, Cooney was a board member of the National Institute for the Word of God and of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Since 2004, he has been a board member of the Catholic Relief Services
.
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 was the third Bishop of Gaylord
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lower peninsula of the state, and includes the cities of Traverse City,...
and currently hold the title Bishop Emeritus in that diocese.
Early life
Patrick Cooney was born in DetroitDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, 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"....
, to Michael and Elizabeth (née Dowdall) Cooney. The oldest of four children, he has two sisters, Mary (a retired teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
of the Detroit Public School System
Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
) and Leontia (an Adrian Dominican
Adrian Dominican Sisters
The Adrian Dominican Sisters are a Catholic religious order of Dominican sisters in the United States. Their motherhouse is in Adrian, Michigan. Their official title is the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary.-Current mission:...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
), and one brother, Michael (a priest
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....
of the Archdiocese of Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
).
Cooney attended St. Edward Elementary School from 1940 to 1948, and Sacred Heart Seminary High School from 1948 to 1952. He then studied at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a Catholic institution of higher learning associated with the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is located at 2701 West Chicago Boulevard, at the western edge of the Boston-Edison Historic District in Detroit, Michigan. In 2006-2007, 93 seminarians and over 400 lay...
, from where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
in 1956. He then furthered his studies 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...
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, earning a Bachelor's in 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 1958.
Priesthood
While in Rome, Cooney was ordainedHoly 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 by Bishop Martin J. O'Connor
Martin John O'Connor
Martin John O'Connor was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as rector of the Pontifical North American College and president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications ....
on December 20, 1959. He later obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
from the Gregorian in 1960. Upon his return to 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 an assistant pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Catherine Church
St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church
The St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church is a church located at 4151 Seminole Street in Detroit, Michigan. It is now the St. Augustine and St. Monica Roman Catholic Church. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.- Description :The St...
in Detroit (1960–1962), assistant 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 (1962–1969), and chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at Mercy College
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
(1967–1972).
From 1969 to 1983, Cooney was director of the Archdiocesan Department of Worship. He also pursued his graduate work
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and there earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in liturgical
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
research in 1973. He was named, in addition to his role as Director of Worship, rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a decorated Gothic Revival style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit...
in 1977.
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
On December 3, 1982, Cooney was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary 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 Detroit 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 Hodelm by 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 ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
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....
on January 27, 1983 from Archbishop Edmund Szoka, with Bishops Harold Perry
Harold Robert Perry
Harold Robert Perry, S.V.D. was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. An auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans for over twenty years, he was the first African American to serve as a Catholic bishop in the 20th century.-Biography:Harold Perry was born in Lake Charles,...
, S.V.D.
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
, and Arthur Krawczak 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 the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
In addition to his duties as an auxiliary bishop, Cooeney was the founding chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Archdiocese's Church in the City Task Force from 1983 to 1990. He also served as liaison to the Catholic Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s of Region VI (Michigan and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) from 1987 to 1991, and a member of Board of Directors for Notre Dame Liturgical Center (1987–1991) and for 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...
(1988–1994).
Bishop of Gaylord
Cooney was later named the third Bishop of GaylordRoman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lower peninsula of the state, and includes the cities of Traverse City,...
on November 6, 1989. He succeeded Robert John Rose
Robert John Rose
Robert John Rose is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Gaylord and Bishop of Grand Rapids .-Biography:...
(who was appointed Bishop of Grand Rapids
Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in western Michigan, in the United States. It comprises 102 churches in Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Montcalm, Mecosta, Lake, Mason, and Osceola counties in Michigan. The diocese was created on...
in January 1989), and was formally installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
as Bishop on January 28, 1990. Thus far into his tenure, he has issued three pastoral letter
Pastoral letter
A Pastoral letter, often called simply a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of his diocese, or to both, containing either general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circumstances...
s: An Agenda for the Church in Gaylord (1991), The Sequence for the Celebration of the Sacarments of Initiation of Children in the Diocese of Gaylord (2001), and Catechesis: The Primary Goal of the Church (2006).
In 2002, Cooney allowed Rev. Gerald Shirilla to serve as pastor of a church with a school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, despite knowing that Shirilla had been removed from the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1993 following decades-long allegations of sexual abuse. After the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
reported on the situation in 2003, he said that Shirilla had made "some errors in judgment" but was "no threat to the well-being of our children," only to suspend him two weeks later.
On January 5, 2008, Cooney suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while preparing for an ordination
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...
ceremony. He then underwent quadruple bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
at Munson Medical Center
Munson Medical Center
Munson Medical Center is a regional medical referral center located in Traverse City, Michigan, serving patients from 32 counties in Northern Michigan and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It has 391 inpatient beds, and nearly 400 physicians representing 41 specialties...
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, Cooney has been a member of the Committee on Liturgy (1984–1996), Subcommittee of Bishops and Scholars (1988–1992), and National Advisory Council (1995–1998); and chairman of the Subcommittee on Use of Exclusive Language in Liturgy (1989–1991), Subcommittee on Book of Blessings (1989–1991), and Subcommittee on Cremation and Other Funeral Questions (1989–1993). He also co-chaired the Roman Catholic-Reformed Church
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
Dialogue Committee from 1998 to 2001. From 1993 to 1998, Cooney was a board member of the National Institute for the Word of God and of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Since 2004, he has been a board member of the Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 90 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and...
.