Odore Joseph Gendron

Odore Joseph Gendron (September 13, 1921 – October 16, 2020) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Manchester from 1975 to 1990.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Odore Joseph Gendron
Bishop Emeritus of Manchester
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseManchester
AppointedDecember 12, 1974
InstalledFebruary 3, 1975
Term endedJune 12, 1990
PredecessorErnest John Primeau
SuccessorLeo Edward O'Neil
Orders
OrdinationMay 31, 1947
ConsecrationFebruary 3, 1975
by Ernest John Primeau, Edward Cornelius O'Leary, and Timothy Joseph Harrington
Personal details
Born(1921-09-13)September 13, 1921
Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
DiedOctober 16, 2020(2020-10-16) (aged 99)
MottoUnity and charity
Styles of
Odore Joseph Gendron
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

Gendron was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Franco-Americans[1] Francis and Valida (née Rouleau) Gendron.[2] He attended Sacred Heart School in Manchester and before continuing his education in Canada, where he studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Sherbrooke, Quebec.[3] From 1942 to 1947, he studied philosophy and theology at St. Paul Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario.[3] Returning to New Hampshire, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Matthew Francis Brady on May 31, 1947.[4]

Following his ordination, Gendron served as associate pastor at Angel Guardian Church in Berlin until 1952, and then at Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon, New Hampshire (1952–1960), and St. Louis Church in Nashua (1960–1965).[2] From 1965 to 1967, he was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsfield.[2] He then served at St. Augustin Church in Manchester until 1972, when he was named the first episcopal vicar for women religious.[3] He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in December 1970, and became Vicar for Clergy in January 1974.[3]

On December 12, 1974, Gendron was appointed the seventh Bishop of Manchester by Pope Paul VI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on February 3, 1975 from Bishop Ernest John Primeau, with Bishops Edward Cornelius O'Leary and Timothy Joseph Harrington serving as co-consecrators.[4] Continuing the implementation of the Second Vatican Council's reforms begun under Bishop Primeau, Gendron established a permanent diaconate and joined the New Hampshire Council of Churches.[5] He also established Magdalen College in Bedford and Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack.[5] Additionally, he served as Honorary President of Notre Dame College in Manchester.

Gendron was criticized for his extreme mismanagement of sexual abuse cases among the clergy.[6]

After fifteen years as bishop, Gendron resigned on June 12, 1990.[4] He was succeeded by his coadjutor bishop, Leo Edward O'Neil.

Gendron died in October 2020 at the age of 99. At the time of his death he was the oldest living Catholic bishop in the United States.[7]

See also

References
  1. Albert, Renaud S. (1979). A Franco-American Overview. National Assessment and Dissemination Center for Bilingual/Bicultural Education. p. 44.
  2. "Odore Joseph Gendron". Who's Who in America.
  3. "Bishops of the Diocese of Manchester". Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  4. "Bishop Odore Joseph Gendron". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. "Decades of Expansion and Growth (1965 - present): The Era After the Second Vatican Council". Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  6. "Papers: Bishop Destroyed Abuse Records". Yourlawyer.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  7. Bishop Odore Gendron death notice

Episcopal succession
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Ernest John Primeau		 Bishop of Manchester
1975–1990		 Succeeded by
Leo Edward O'Neil
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