Augustus Maria Bernard Anthony John Gebhard Toebbe
Encyclopedia
Augustus Maria Bernard Anthony John Gebhard Toebbe was the second bishop
of Covington, Kentucky
. Bishop Toebbe called the first diocesan synod
and helped to further establish the new diocese.
on January 15, 1829. He emigrated to the United States in 1852 to study to be a priest. Toebbe was accepted as a candidate for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and after two years of studies, was ordained a priest
by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell
on September 14, 1854. Father Toebbe served most of his priestly career at a German parish in Cincinnati
. Father Toebbe was also a member of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore
in 1866.
's death, Father Toebbe was notified that he had been named the new bishop of Covington by the same man who had named his predecessor, Pope Pius IX
. Toebbe was consecrated as bishop on January 9, 1870 by Bishop Sylvester Horton Rosencrans of Columbus, Ohio
, the former auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati.
Bishop Toebbe was responsible for bringing the Sisters of Notre Dame to the diocese, who still remain an important part of the diocesan operations. Bishop Toebbe also increased the number of parishes to fifty-five. After serving the diocese well, Bishop Toebbe died on May 2, 1884.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
. Bishop Toebbe called the first diocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
and helped to further establish the new diocese.
Early Life and Priesthood
Augustus Toebbe was born in Meppen in modern-day GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on January 15, 1829. He emigrated to the United States in 1852 to study to be a priest. Toebbe was accepted as a candidate for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and after two years of studies, was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell
John Baptist Purcell
John Baptist Purcell was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Cincinnati from 1833 until his death in 1883, and was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1850.-Biography:...
on September 14, 1854. Father Toebbe served most of his priestly career at a German parish in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Father Toebbe was also a member of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore
Plenary Councils of Baltimore
The Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three national meetings of Roman Catholic bishops in the 19th century in Baltimore, Maryland.During the early history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States all of the dioceses were part of one ecclesiastical province under the Archbishop of Baltimore...
in 1866.
Bishop of Covington
On November 24, 1869, over a year since Bishop CarrellGeorge Aloysius Carrell
George Aloysius Carrell, S.J. was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Covington, serving between 1853 and his death in 1868.-Early life and education:...
's death, Father Toebbe was notified that he had been named the new bishop of Covington by the same man who had named his predecessor, Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. Toebbe was consecrated as bishop on January 9, 1870 by Bishop Sylvester Horton Rosencrans of Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, the former auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati.
Bishop Toebbe was responsible for bringing the Sisters of Notre Dame to the diocese, who still remain an important part of the diocesan operations. Bishop Toebbe also increased the number of parishes to fifty-five. After serving the diocese well, Bishop Toebbe died on May 2, 1884.