Francis Frederick Reh

Francis Frederick Reh (January 9, 1911 – November 14, 1994) was an American Roman Catholic prelate. He served as Bishop of Charleston (1962–64), rector of the Pontifical North American College (1964–68), and Bishop of Saginaw (1968-80).

The Most Reverend Francis Frederick Reh
Bishop emeritus of Saginaw
Diocese	Saginaw
In office	December 11, 1968 – April 29, 1980
Predecessor	Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki
Successor	Kenneth Edward Untener
Other posts	Bishop of Charleston (1962-1964) Titular Bishop of Macriana in Mauretania/Rector of the Pontifical North American College (1964–1968)
Orders
Ordination	December 8, 1935
Consecration	June 29, 1962 by Francis Joseph Spellman
Personal details
Born	January 9, 1911 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	November 14, 1994 (aged 83) Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.

Early life and education

One of two children, Francis Reh was born in The Bronx, New York, to Gustave A. and Elizabeth (née Hartnagel) Reh.[1] His father worked as a truant officer for the New York City Board of Education.[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of Immaculate Conception Church, and entered Cathedral College at age thirteen.[1] After graduating from Cathedral College in 1930, he attended St Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, New York for two years before continuing his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[1]

Reh was ordained to the priesthood on December 8, 1935.[2] He earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (1936) and a Doctor of Canon Law summa cum laude (1939) from the Pontifical Gregorian University.[3]

Priesthood

Upon his return to the United States in 1939, he served as assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York and associate pastor at St. Patrick's Cathedral for two years.[3] From 1941-51, he was professor of moral theology and canon law at St Joseph's Seminary.[1] He also served as defender of the bond on the archdiocesan tribunal. He became vice-chancellor in 1951.[4]

In 1954, Reh was named a papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII and vice-rector at his alma mater of the North American College in Rome.[3] He returned to St. Joseph's Seminary in New York in 1958 as its rector. That same year, he accompanied Cardinal Francis Spellman to Rome for the papal conclave that elected Pope John XXIII.[4]

Episcopacy

On June 6, 1962, Reh was appointed the ninth Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 29 from Cardinal Spellman, with Archbishop John Joseph Maguire and Bishop John Michael Fearns serving as co-consecrators.[2] At his consecration, he wore the same vestments worn by Cardinal Spellman and Pope Pius XII at their own consecrations.[5] Between 1962 and 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

On September 5, 1964, Reh was named to succeed Bishop Martin John O'Connor as rector of the North American College.[2] He was appointed Titular Bishop of Macriana in Mauretania on the same date.[2] On December 11, 1968, he was appointed bishop of the Saginaw diocese by Pope Paul VI. He served as bishop until his resignation on April 29, 1980. He was succeeded as bishop of Saginaw by Kenneth Untener.[2]

Notes

1. "Teacher of Priests: Francis Frederick Reh". The New York Times. 1964-09-03.
2. "Bishop Francis Frederick Reh". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
3. "BISHOP REH OFFERS PONTIFICAL MASS; At His First, the New Prelate Is Hailed at St. Patrick's". The New York Times. 1962-07-02.
4. "MOST REV. FRANCIS F. REH". Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
5. "New S.C. Bishop Is Consecrated". Spartanburg Herald Journal. 1962-06-30.