Edward John Harper

Edward John Harper CSsR (July 23, 1910 — December 2, 1990) was an American member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (more commonly known as the Redemptorists) and a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, serving in that office from 1977 to 1985.

The Most Reverend Edward J. Harper CSsR
Bishop Emeritus of Saint Thomas
Province	Washington
Diocese	Saint Thomas
Appointed	April 20, 1977
Term ended	October 16, 1985
Successor	Sean P. O'Malley
Orders
Ordination	June 18, 1939
Consecration	October 6, 1960 by Bryan J. McEntegart
Personal details
Born	July 23, 1910 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, US
Died	December 2, 1990 (aged 80)
Previous post	Apostolic Prefect of the Territorial Prelature of the Virgin Islands (1960–1977), Titular Bishop of Heraclea Pontica (1960–1977)
Alma mater	Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary

Life

Harper was born on July 23, 1910, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.[1] He initially began a career as an accountant,[1] but he later felt called to become a missionary and entered the Redemptorists in 1933, making his temporary profession of religious vows as a member of the congregation on August 2 of the following year. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1939.[2] He was then assigned by his superiors to serve on various islands of the Caribbean.[1]

On July 23, 1960, Harper was appointed by Pope John XXIII as the first Apostolic Prefect of the newly erected Apostolic Prelature of the Virgin Islands and Titular Bishop of Heraclea Pontica.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 6 from Bryan J. McEntegart, Bishop of Brooklyn, with Bishops William Tibertus McCarty and James Edward McManus serving as co-consecrators, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Brooklyn.[2]

Upon the elevation of his prelature to the Diocese of Saint Thomas, Harper was named its first bishop on April 20, 1977.[2] After twenty-five years of service in the Virgin Islands, he retired on October 16, 1985, upon which he was given the title of Bishop Emeritus of Saint Thomas. He died on December 2, 1990, at the age of 80 years.[2]

References

1. "First Bishop Elevated for the Virgin Islands". The New York Times. October 7, 1960.
2. "Bishop Edward John Harper, C.SS.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org.