Romeo Roy Blanchette | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Joliet in Illinois Titular Bishop ofMaxita | |
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| See | Diocese of Joliet in Illinois |
| In office | 1966 to 1979 |
| Predecessor | Martin Dewey McNamara |
| Successor | Joseph Leopold Imesch |
| Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet (1965 to 1966) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 3, 1937 by George Mundelein |
| Consecration | April 3, 1965 by Egidio Vagnozzi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1913-01-06)January 6, 1913 |
| Died | January 10, 1982(1982-01-10) (aged 69) Joliet, Illinois, US |
| Education | St. Mary of the Lake Seminary Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto | Kyrie Eleison (O Lord, have mercy) |
| Styles of Romeo Roy Blanchette | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Romeo Roy Blanchette (January 6, 1913 – January 10, 1982) was an American prelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1966 to 1979. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese from 1965 to 1966
Romeo Blanchette was born on January 6, 1913, inKankakee County, Illinois, to Oscar and Josephine (née Langlois) Blanchette.[1] After attendingArchbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary inChicago from 1928 to 1931, he studied atSt. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, receiving aBachelor of Arts degree in 1934.[1]
Blanchette wasordained to the priesthood for theArchdiocese of Chicago by CardinalGeorge Mundelein on April 3, 1937, upon the recommendation of rectorReynold Henry Hillenbrand.[2] He continued his studies in Rome at thePontifical Gregorian University, earning aLicentiate of Canon Law in 1939.[1] Blanchette served as a notary of thematrimonial court for the archdiocese. (1938–1949). When the Diocese of Joliet was erected in 1949, BishopMartin McNamara made himchancellor there.[1] In 1950, Blanchette was namedvicar general of the diocese and adomestic prelate.[1]
On February 8, 1965, Blanchette was appointed as anauxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Joliet andtitular bishop ofMaxita byPope Paul VI.[2] He received hisepiscopalconsecration at theCathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnat in Joliet, Illinois, on April 3, 1965, from ArchbishopEgidio Vagnozzi, with BishopsWilliam Aloysius O'Connor andErnest John Primeau serving asco-consecrators.[2] Blanchette attended the fourth session of theSecond Vatican Council in Rome in 1965
Following the death of Bishop McNamara, Blanchette was named by Pope Paul as the second bishop of Joliet on July 19, 1966.[2][3]
On January 30, 1979, Pope John Paul II accepted Blanchette's resignation as bishop of Joliet after he was diagnosed withLou Gehrig's disease.[2][4] Romeo Blanchette died of that disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet on January 10, 1982, at age 69.[4][5]
In a 2015 lawsuit brought against the diocese bysexual abuse victims, it was revealed that Blanchette ignored warnings about the behavior of certain seminarians. The diocese settled with the victims for over $4 million.
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Joliet in Illinois 1966—1979 | Succeeded by |
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