Ralph Leo Hayes
Encyclopedia
Ralph Leo Hayes was a 20th century bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States
. He served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena
in the state of Montana
from 1933–1935, and as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
in the state of Iowa
from 1944-1966. Between those two appointments he served as the rector
of the Pontifical North American College from 1935-1944.
to Patrick Nagle and Mary Jane (O’Donnell) Hayes. He received his high school and college education at Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University
). He played on the school football, basketball and baseball teams while in college, and in the summer on a semi-pro baseball team. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College and the University of the Congregation of Propagation of the Faith
in Rome
. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh
on September 19, 1909. He initially served in a parish before he was appointed to the diocesan mission band where he eventually served as its director. From 1917-1925 he was superintendent of schools for the Pittsburgh Diocese. He then spent seven years as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Pittsburgh doing what he called ‘’real priest’s work.”
of Pittsburgh. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops James A. Griffin
of Springfield, Illinois and Alphonse J. Smith
of Nashville. Both co-consecrators were classmates of his in Rome. He served the diocese as its bishop for two years.
of Hieropolis and rector of the Pontifical North American College. With the onset of World War II
Pope Pius XII chose to temporarily close the national seminaries and Hayes returned to Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh, Hayes continued to look after the financial and other business matters relating to the college. He also assisted Bishop Boyle in his episcopal responsibilities.
on April 30, 1958.
During his 22 years in Davenport there was an expansion to school facilities across the diocese. Muscatine Central Catholic High School (now closed) in Muscatine (1953), Notre Dame High School
in Burlington
(1957), Regina High School
in Iowa City (1958), Assumption High School
in Davenport
(1958), Aquinas High School (now Holy Trinity
) in Fort Madison
(1959), Walsh High School (now closed) in Ottumwa (1960), and Cardinal Stritch High School (now closed) in Keokuk
(1965) were all established. Many of these communities had been served by parish high schools, while Davenport's new high school was a merger of two academies. New buildings were also added at St. Ambrose
, Marycrest
and Mt. St. Claire Colleges. The four bishops of Iowa built Mt. St. Bernard’s Seminary in Dubuque.
Enrollment in the Catholic Schools reached their highest enrollments during Bishop Hayes’ episcopate. Elementary school enrollment reached its highest mark in 1960 at 12, 074. The high schools reached their highest mark in 1965 with 4,129 students.
There was also an expansion in facilities to care for the elderly. The Kahl Home for the Aged and Infirmed in Davenport, which is operated by the Carmelite Sisters, built a new building. New facilities were established in Burlington (St. Francis) and Clinton (Alverno).
The church’s social teachings was a theme that ran throughout Bishop Hayes’ episcopacy. A four day conference sponsored by the National Catholic Welfare Council
was held in Davenport in 1949. It focused on the themes of industry, education and rural life. From 1954-1956 Bishop Hayes served as the president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Their national convention was held in Davenport in 1956. The Papal Volunteers of Latin America were established in the diocese in February 1961 in response to a plea from Pope John XXIII. Rev. Luis Colonnese, who would later become Director of the Latin American Bureau of the United States Catholic Conference
, was put in charge. Fundraising was led by the Knights of Columbus
, and Johnny Lujack
, who was responsible for a special gift drive. For the most part, missionaries from the diocese went to Cuernavaca, Mexico or to Ponce, Puerto Rico
. The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
was created by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council in 1964 in commemoration of the 1963 Encyclical Pacem in Terris
by Pope John.
Bishop Hayes attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
. He was the oldest bishop from the United States at the council. The Catholic Messenger published the decrees of the council in their entirety in the paper. Liturgical renewal was already underway in the diocese under the direction of the Rev. Cletus Madsen
. In the 1950s he had been working on reforming liturgical music in the diocese by advocating the replacement of the more sentimental devotional music with liturgical music and participation by the laity. He also advocated teaching children Gregorian Chant
so as to lead the congregation in singing. Work had also begun, under Bishop Hayes’ direction, to establish a Priests’ Senate.
in compliance with the Vatican II decree Christus Dominus
. His resignation was the first such resignation accepted by Pope Paul VI. On October 20, 1966 he was named Titular Bishop of Naraggara
and Bishop Emeritus of Davenport. He retired to the Kahl Home. He died there in 1970 at the age of 85. Following his funeral in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishop Hayes was laid to rest in the Bishop's Circle of Mt. Calvary Cemetery
.
, and Bishop Hayes School in Muscatine, Iowa
are named in his honor.
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...
of 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 the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena
Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena
The Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana. It was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.For its first...
in the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
from 1933–1935, and as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from 1944-1966. Between those two appointments he served as the 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 Pontifical North American College from 1935-1944.
Early life & Ministry
Hayes was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
to Patrick Nagle and Mary Jane (O’Donnell) Hayes. He received his high school and college education at Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
). He played on the school football, basketball and baseball teams while in college, and in the summer on a semi-pro baseball team. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College and the University of the Congregation of Propagation of the Faith
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
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...
. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
on September 19, 1909. He initially served in a parish before he was appointed to the diocesan mission band where he eventually served as its director. From 1917-1925 he was superintendent of schools for the Pittsburgh Diocese. He then spent seven years as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Pittsburgh doing what he called ‘’real priest’s work.”
Bishop of Helena
On June 23, 1933, Pope Pius XI appointed Hayes as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena and he was consecrated bishop on September 21, 1933 by Bishop Hugh C. BoyleHugh 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:...
of Pittsburgh. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops James A. Griffin
James Aloysius Griffin
James Aloysius Griffin was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield in Illinois from 1924 until his death in 1948.-Biography:...
of Springfield, Illinois and Alphonse J. Smith
Alphonse John Smith
Alphonse John Smith, was a 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville from 1923-35.-Biography:...
of Nashville. Both co-consecrators were classmates of his in Rome. He served the diocese as its bishop for two years.
North American College
On October 26, 1935 he was appointed Titular BishopTitular 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 Hieropolis and rector of the Pontifical North American College. With the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Pope Pius XII chose to temporarily close the national seminaries and Hayes returned to Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh, Hayes continued to look after the financial and other business matters relating to the college. He also assisted Bishop Boyle in his episcopal responsibilities.
Bishop of Davenport
On November 16, 1944 Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop Hayes as fifth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport. Pius XII also appointed him Assistant at the Pontifical ThroneAssistant 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....
on April 30, 1958.
During his 22 years in Davenport there was an expansion to school facilities across the diocese. Muscatine Central Catholic High School (now closed) in Muscatine (1953), Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School (Burlington, Iowa)
Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Burlington, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport.-Background:...
in Burlington
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
(1957), Regina High School
Regina High School (Iowa)
Regina High School is the only Catholic K-12 Education Center in Iowa City, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It currently houses 450+ in the elementary, and 400+ in the Junior/Senior High School...
in Iowa City (1958), Assumption High School
Assumption High School (Davenport, Iowa)
Assumption High School is a Roman Catholic high school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Charles Elbert is the current principal of Assumption High....
in Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
(1958), Aquinas High School (now Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity High School (Fort Madison, Iowa)
Holy Trinity Jr/Sr High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Fort Madison, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Other sites include the Early Childhood Center in St...
) in Fort Madison
Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a city in and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States. The other county seat is Keokuk. The population was 10,715 at the 2000 census...
(1959), Walsh High School (now closed) in Ottumwa (1960), and Cardinal Stritch High School (now closed) in Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
(1965) were all established. Many of these communities had been served by parish high schools, while Davenport's new high school was a merger of two academies. New buildings were also added at St. Ambrose
Saint Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It is located in a residential area of Davenport, Iowa.-History:...
, Marycrest
Marycrest International University
Marycrest College Historic District is located on a bluff overlooking the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district encompasses the campus of Marycrest International University, which was a small, private collegiate institution...
and Mt. St. Claire Colleges. The four bishops of Iowa built Mt. St. Bernard’s Seminary in Dubuque.
Enrollment in the Catholic Schools reached their highest enrollments during Bishop Hayes’ episcopate. Elementary school enrollment reached its highest mark in 1960 at 12, 074. The high schools reached their highest mark in 1965 with 4,129 students.
There was also an expansion in facilities to care for the elderly. The Kahl Home for the Aged and Infirmed in Davenport, which is operated by the Carmelite Sisters, built a new building. New facilities were established in Burlington (St. Francis) and Clinton (Alverno).
The church’s social teachings was a theme that ran throughout Bishop Hayes’ episcopacy. A four day conference sponsored by the National Catholic Welfare Council
National Catholic Welfare Council
The National Catholic Welfare Council was the annual meeting of the American Catholic hierarchy and its standing secretariat; it was established in 1919 as the successor to the emergency organization, the National Catholic War Council....
was held in Davenport in 1949. It focused on the themes of industry, education and rural life. From 1954-1956 Bishop Hayes served as the president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Their national convention was held in Davenport in 1956. The Papal Volunteers of Latin America were established in the diocese in February 1961 in response to a plea from Pope John XXIII. Rev. Luis Colonnese, who would later become Director of the Latin American Bureau of the United States Catholic Conference
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...
, was put in charge. Fundraising was led by the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, and Johnny Lujack
Johnny Lujack
John Christopher Lujack Jr. is a former American football quarterback and 1947 Heisman Trophy winner.Lujack was born on January 4, 1925, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and professionally for the Chicago Bears. Lujack was the first of...
, who was responsible for a special gift drive. For the most part, missionaries from the diocese went to Cuernavaca, Mexico or to Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
Pacem in Terris Award
The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award is a Catholic peace award which has been given annually since 1964, in commemoration of the 1963 encyclical letter "Pacem in Terris" of Pope John XXIII...
was created by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council in 1964 in commemoration of the 1963 Encyclical Pacem in Terris
Pacem in Terris
Pacem in Terris was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII, who died from cancer two months after its completion ....
by Pope John.
Bishop Hayes attended all four sessions of 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...
. He was the oldest bishop from the United States at the council. The Catholic Messenger published the decrees of the council in their entirety in the paper. Liturgical renewal was already underway in the diocese under the direction of the Rev. Cletus Madsen
Cletus Madsen
Cletus Madsen was a 20th century Catholic priest of the Diocese of Davenport in the US state of Iowa. He was involved the Liturgical Movement in the Catholic Church in the mid-20th century.-Early life & Education:...
. In the 1950s he had been working on reforming liturgical music in the diocese by advocating the replacement of the more sentimental devotional music with liturgical music and participation by the laity. He also advocated teaching children Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
so as to lead the congregation in singing. Work had also begun, under Bishop Hayes’ direction, to establish a Priests’ Senate.
Later life & Death
On his 82nd birthday, September 21, 1966, Bishop Hayes submitted his resignation to the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in compliance with the Vatican II decree Christus Dominus
Christus Dominus
Christus Dominus is the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops. It was approved by a vote of 2,319 to 2 of the assembled bishops and was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965. The title in Latin means "Christ the Lord," and is from the first line of the...
. His resignation was the first such resignation accepted by Pope Paul VI. On October 20, 1966 he was named Titular Bishop of Naraggara
Naraggara
Naraggara was an ancient city dating back to the Barcid family in Carthage. It was located 150 km south-east of Carthage and 60 km from what was called the Great Plains...
and Bishop Emeritus of Davenport. He retired to the Kahl Home. He died there in 1970 at the age of 85. Following his funeral in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishop Hayes was laid to rest in the Bishop's Circle of Mt. Calvary Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery (Davenport, Iowa)
Mount Calvary Cemetery is located in north-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established as St. Marguerite’s Cemetery in the 1850s on of property donated by Antoine LeClaire. At the time the cemetery lay outside the city of Davenport...
.
Legacy
Hayes Hall, the former seminary building and now an academic building at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, and Bishop Hayes School in Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
are named in his honor.