Walter James Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J.
(November 17, 1883—July 19, 1947) was an American
prelate
of the Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of Alaska
from 1945 until his death in 1947. A Jesuit
, he previously served as President of Gonzaga University
(1921–27) and of Seattle University
(1929–31).
(more commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1902, and graduated from the normal school
in Los Gatos
, California
, in 1906. He then returned to Washington and served as a professor at Seattle College
until 1909, when he enrolled at Gonzaga University
in Spokane
. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
(1910) and Master of Arts
(1912) degrees from Gonzaga. From 1912 to 1920, he was a professor at Gonzaga, although his service was interrupted by a period of study at Immaculate Conception College in Montreal
, Canada
(1915–19) to receive his Doctor of Sacred Theology
degree.
Fitzgerald was ordained
to the priesthood
on May 16, 1918. After teaching at the institution for the next three years, he became president of Gonzaga University in 1921, serving in that position until 1927. He afterward served as president of Manresa Hall in Port Townsend
(1927–29) and of Seattle College (1929–31). He then served as vice-provincial (1931–32) and later provincial (1932–38) of the Jesuits' Northwestern Province.
On December 14, 1938, Fitzgerald was appointed Coadjutor
Vicar Apostolic
of Alaska
and Titular Bishop
of Timbrias
by Pope Pius XI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on February 24, 1939 from Bishop Joseph Crimont
, with Bishops Charles White
and Robert Armstrong
serving as co-consecrators
. Upon the death of Bishop Crimont, Fitzgerald succeeded him as Vicar Apostolic of Alaska
on May 20, 1945. He remained in this position until his death in Seattle at age 63.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(November 17, 1883—July 19, 1947) was an American
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 Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of Alaska
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising the northern regions of the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate bishop which serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of the...
from 1945 until his death in 1947. A Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, he previously served as President of Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
(1921–27) and of Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
(1929–31).
Biography
Walter Fitzgerald was born at Peola, in Garfield County, Washington, to Patrick Sarsfield and Johanna Frances (née Kirk) Fitzgerald. He entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(more commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1902, and graduated from the normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
in Los Gatos
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
, 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...
, in 1906. He then returned to Washington and served as a professor at Seattle College
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
until 1909, when he enrolled at Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1910) and 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...
(1912) degrees from Gonzaga. From 1912 to 1920, he was a professor at Gonzaga, although his service was interrupted by a period of study at Immaculate Conception College in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(1915–19) to receive his Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
degree.
Fitzgerald 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 May 16, 1918. After teaching at the institution for the next three years, he became president of Gonzaga University in 1921, serving in that position until 1927. He afterward served as president of Manresa Hall in Port Townsend
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
(1927–29) and of Seattle College (1929–31). He then served as vice-provincial (1931–32) and later provincial (1932–38) of the Jesuits' Northwestern Province.
On December 14, 1938, Fitzgerald was appointed Coadjutor
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...
Vicar Apostolic
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
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 Timbrias
Timbrias
Timbrias is a Roman Catholic titular see in Pisidia. It is a suffragan of Antioch....
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...
. 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 February 24, 1939 from Bishop Joseph Crimont
Joseph Raphael John Crimont
Joseph Raphael John Crimont, SJ was a 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the Vicar Apostolic of Alaska from 1917-45.-Biography:...
, with Bishops Charles White
Charles Daniel White
Charles Daniel White was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Spokane from 1927 until his death in 1955.-Biography:...
and Robert Armstrong
Robert John Armstrong
Robert John Armstrong, was the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, which encompassed 36 Northern California counties, and its longest serving ordinary. He was a prelate during Great Depression, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War...
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...
. Upon the death of Bishop Crimont, Fitzgerald succeeded him as Vicar Apostolic of Alaska
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising the northern regions of the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate bishop which serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of the...
on May 20, 1945. He remained in this position until his death in Seattle at age 63.