Joseph H. Albers

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Joseph H. Albers
Bishop of Lansing
titular bishop of Lunda
ChurchRoman Catholic
SeeDiocese of Lansing
In officeAugust 4, 1937 -
October 7, 1964
SuccessorAlexander M. Zaleski
Other post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati
1929 to 1937
Orders
OrdinationJune 16, 1916
by Henry Moeller
ConsecrationAugust 4, 1937
by John T. McNicholas
Personal details
Born(1891-03-18)March 18, 1891
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
DiedDecember 1, 1965(1965-12-01) (aged 74)
Lansing, Michigan, US
BuriedSt. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Lansing
EducationAppollonaire University
Example of Citation Star on World War I Victory Medal

Joseph H. Albers D.D.[1] (March 18, 1891 – December 1, 1965) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Albers served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Lansing in Michigan in from 1937 until his death in 1964. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in Ohio from 1929 until 1937.[2]

Albers received a Silver Star for his service as a US Army chaplain in France during World War I.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Joseph Albers was born on March 18, 1891, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[3] He was educated at St. Francis Xavier College and Mount St. Mary College, both in Cincinnati.[4]

Priesthood[edit]

Albers was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by Archbishop Henry Moeller on June 17, 1916.[3] After his ordination, Albers served as an assistant pastor at Old St. Mary's Parish in Cincinnati.[5]

After the outbreak of World War I, Albers join the US Army Chaplain Corps and was commissioned as an officer on June 1, 1918. He served in the infantry in France, seeing combat in the battles of the Argonne Forest, Chateau Thierry and St. Mihiel. Albers was wounded three times in battle and was a victim of a poison gas attack. He was decorated and received the Silver Star.[4]

After being discharged from the Army in 1919, Albers returned to Cincinnati. He soon became assistant chancellor and assistant to the archbishop. In 1925, Alberts was appointed chancellor. In 1926 he became a monsignor.[4] Albers studied canon law at Appollonaire University in Rome for two years, receiving a Doctor of Canon Law degree. Once back in Cincinnati, Albers resumed his post as chancellor.

Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati[edit]

On December 16, 1929, Pope Pius XI appointed Albers as titular bishop of Lunda and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He was consecrated by Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas at Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati on December 27, 1929.[3]

Bishop of Lansing[edit]

On May 26, 1937, Pope Pius XI appointed Alberts as the first bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. He was consecrated on August 4, 1937, by Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas.[3] In January 1938, the rectory of St. Mary Cathedral had a serious fire. Albers, still suffering from lungs weakened from poison gas in World War I, collapsed at the scene and was rescued by firefighters.[2] In 1940, Albers moved into Meadowvue in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, his episcopal residence.[6][7] He was appointed in 1954 as an assistant at the pontifical throne.[8]}} "Diocese of Lansing | Office of the Bishop". Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.</ref>

During Albers's episcopacy, the diocese built 38 parishes, 42 elementary schools and two high schools. This earned Albers the appellation "The Builder".[2] Albers enjoyed a special devotion to St. Joseph; one of the new parishes was named for him.[9] On August 1, 1954, the diocesan newsletter Catholic Weekly, Lansing began publication. Albers was instrumental in its startup.[10] On October 11, 1962, Albers attended the opening session of the Second Vatican Council.[2]

Retirement and legacy[edit]

On October 7, 1964, Pope Paul VI accepted Albers's early retirement as bishop of the Diocese of Lansing due to bad health. He was succeeded by Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski.[2][11] Joseph Albers died in Lansing on December 1, 1965, at age 74.[11] He was interred at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Lansing.[12]

The Knights of Columbus has a chapter named for him, the Bishop Joseph H. Albers Council 4090 in Davison, Michigan.[13] St. Joseph's Catholic Church was established in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1941. To pay for the church, part of the grounds was subdivided and sold. That section is named "Bishop Albers Subdivision".[14] The Bishop Joseph H. Albers Trust Fund provides scholarships to seminarians.[15] Some of Albers's correspondence is stored in the University of Notre Dame archives.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Photo of Most Reverend Joseph H. Albers, D.D." Good Samaritan School of Nursing, The Victorian. Cincinnati, Ohio: U.S. GenWeb project. 1930. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e Faith Magazine, History of Lansing diocese. Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d "Bishop Joseph Henry Albers [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  4. ^ a b c "Bishop Joseph H. Albers Dies; Catholic Prelate of Lansing, 74". The New York Times. 1965-12-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  5. ^ Parish Archives, The History of Old St. Mary Church (from the 1942 Anniversary Edition). Archived September 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Meadovue: History of the English Inn". Eaton Rapids, Michigan: The English Inn. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "MI State Historic Preservation Objects". 2011-06-06. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  8. ^ Msgr. George Michalek. "History of the bishops of Lansing". Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history. Archdiocese of Lansing, Michigan. Archived from the original on 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2007-11-30. "Diocese of Lansing | Office of the Bishop". Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  9. ^ "Education for Living – Faith for Life".
  10. ^ "Catholic Weekly / Catholic Times". Archived from the original on 2003-12-26.
  11. ^ a b Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history Archived September 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery Headstones, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan".
  13. ^ Knights of Columbus, #4090, Bishop Joseph H. Albers Council. Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ St. Joseph Catholic Church, Battle Creek, Early parish history.
  15. ^ "Bishop Joseph H. Albers Trust Fund". Diocese of Lansing. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Notre Dame Archives Inventory: PCO".


External links[edit]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
None
 Bishop of Lansing
1937—1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Titular Bishop of Lunda
1929—1937 		Succeeded by
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