Richard Oliver Gerow | |
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| Bishop of Natchez-Jackson titular bishop of Vageata | |
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| See | Diocese of Natchez-Jackson |
| In office | June 25, 1924 – December 2, 1967 |
| Predecessor | John Edward Gunn † |
| Successor | Joseph Bernard Brunini † |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 5, 1909 by Pietro Respighi |
| Consecration | October 15, 1924, by Edward Patrick Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 3, 1885 Mobile, Alabama, US |
| Died | December 20, 1976 Jackson, Mississippi, US |
| Education | Mount St. Mary's College Pontifical North American College |
| Coat of arms | |
Richard Oliver Gerow (May 3, 1885 – December 20, 1976) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Natchez-Jackson in Mississippi from 1924 to 1967.
Richard Gerow was born on May 3, 1885, inMobile,Alabama, one of two children of Warren Rosencranz and Annie A. (née Skehan) Gerow.[1] Warren Rosencranz, a native of Mobile and convert toCatholicism, built floats forMardi Gras for theOrder of Myths.[2] Annie Gerow was born inCounty Tipperary,Ireland, and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1863.[2] Following Warren's death in 1894, Annie supported the family by renting out small cottages and establishing a dressmaking business.[2]
Gerow was educated by a private tutor before attending Cathedral Grammar School in Mobile.[2] He then attendedMcGill Institute in Mobilefrom 1897 until 1901, when he enrolled atMount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland.[1] Gerow graduated from Mount St. Mary's in 1904 with aBachelor of Arts degree, and then began his studies for thepriesthood at thePontifical North American College in Rome.[1] He earned aDoctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1909.[1]
On June 5, 1909, Gerow wasordained a priest for theDiocese of Mobile by CardinalPietro Respighi at theBasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.[3] Gerow celebrated his firstMass in thecatacombs of Rome.[2] Following his return to the United States, he was assigned as temporary administrator of St. Joseph's Parish inPensacola,Florida, where he remained for one month.[2] He then returned to Mobile, where he served as acurate at theCathedral of the Immaculate Conception and pro-chancellor of the Diocese of Mobile.[1] He later served as chancellor of the diocese until 1920, when he becamerector of the cathedral.[1]
On June 25, 1924, Gerow was appointed the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Natchez byPope Pius XI.[3] He received hisepiscopalconsecration on October 15, 1924, from BishopEdward Allen, with BishopsJules Jeanmard andJames Griffin serving asco-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.[3] His installation took place atSt. Mary's Cathedral in Natchez on November 12, 1924.[1] Gerow was named anassistant at the pontifical throne byPope Pius XII on October 3, 1949.[1]
During his 43-year tenure, Gerow oversaw an extensive renovation of St. Mary's Cathedral, held biannual clerical conferences, and worked to establishedConfraternity of Christian Doctrine programs in every parish of the diocese.[2] He moved theepiscopal see of the diocese toJackson in 1948.[2] On December 18, 1956, the Diocese of Natchez was changed to the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, with Gerow remaining as bishop.[4]
In 1963, Gerow condemned the assassination of theCivil Rights Movement activistMedgar Evers in Mississippi, saying, "We need frankly to admit that the guilt for the murder and the other instances of violence in our community tragically must be shared by all of us."[5] The following year, he ordered Catholic elementary schools in Mississippi to admit students to thefirst grade "without regard torace."[6] In 1965, Gerow ordered thedesegregation of all grades in Catholic schools, in order to "bring our practice into full conformity with the teachings of Christ."[7]
Gerow served as Episcopal Moderator of the National Catholic Committee onScouting from 1941 to 1961 and was awarded theSilver Buffalo Award by theBoy Scouts of America in 1954.
On December 2, 1967,Pope Paul VI accepted Gerow's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson; he was appointedtitular bishop ofVageata by the pope on the same date.[3] He resigned his titular see on January 5, 1971.[3] Richard Gerow died at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson on December 20, 1976, at age 91.[2]
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| Preceded by – | Bishop of Natchez-Jackson 1956–1967 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Natchez 1924–1956 | Succeeded by –(Titular see) |
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