Bryan Joseph McEntegart
Encyclopedia
Bryan Joseph McEntegart was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg
(1943-1953), Rector
of the Catholic University of America
(1953-1957), and as Bishop of Brooklyn
(1957-1968).
to Patrick and Katherine (née Roe) McEntegart. He studied at Manhattan College
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1913, and then at St. Joseph's Seminary
in Yonkers
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Cardinal John Murphy Farley on September 8, 1917. In 1918 he earned a Master's degree
from the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
, with a thesis
entitled: "The Care of the Poor in New York in the 17th Century." He then served as a curate
at Sacred Heart Church in New York City until 1923, when he was transferred to St. Patrick's Cathedral
.
After pursuing his graduate
stuides at the New York School of Social Work
(1919-1920), McEntegart was named the first director of the Children's Division in the Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of New York
. During his tenure as director, he also taught courses in child welfare at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service
(1920-1930), served on the White House
Committee on Child Welfare under Presidents Herbert Hoover
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
, and was director of the Child Welfare League of America
(1931-1937). He was a curate at St. Frances de Sales Church from 1938 to 1941. In 1941 he was elected president
of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. From 1941 to 1943, he served as national secretary
of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
. He became the first executive director
of Catholic Relief Services
in 1943. He also served on the board of the United Service Organizations
for fourteen years.
On June 5, 1943, McEntegart was appointed the fifth Bishop of Ogdensburg
by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following August 3 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edmund Gibbons
and Stephen Joseph Donahue
serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Shortly after his installation
, the Cathedral of Ogdensburg was destroyed by fire; however, McEntegart constructed a new edifice within months. From 1953 to 1957, he served as rector
of the Catholic University of America. He was given the titular see
of Aradi on August 19, 1953. During his administration, he embarked on a large fund-raising campaign to expand all phases of the university's work.
Returning to New York, McEntegart was named the fourth Bishop of Brooklyn
on April 16, 1957. As such, he headed the largest diocese in the United States in terms of Catholic population. He was installed by Cardinal Francis Spellman on June 13, 1957. During his tenure he launched a multimillion-dollar building program, which included six high school
s, Cathedral Preparatory Seminary
, a hospital
, a college
for training Long Island
's priests, and a four-year theological seminary
. He promoted outreach to the growing Hispanic
population, sending priests and religious
to study Spanish language
and culture
. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
between 1962 and 1965; he implemented the reforms
of the Council, becoming a pioneer in the ecumenical
movement and establishing the Pastoral Institute in 1967. He was given the personal title of Archbishop
by Pope Paul VI
on April 15, 1966.
After eleven years as Bishop of Brooklyn, McEntegart resigned on July 17, 1968. Two months later, he died at his residence in the Fort Greene
section of Brooklyn, aged 75.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
(1943-1953), Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
(1953-1957), and as Bishop of Brooklyn
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes territory that was previously part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, was established as a separate diocese in 1853 when the City of Brooklyn was separate from New York City....
(1957-1968).
Biography
Bryan McEntegart was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Patrick and Katherine (née Roe) McEntegart. He studied at Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1913, and then at St. Joseph's Seminary
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
in Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Cardinal John Murphy Farley on September 8, 1917. In 1918 he earned a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, with a thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
entitled: "The Care of the Poor in New York in the 17th Century." He then served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Sacred Heart Church in New York City until 1923, when he was transferred to St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
.
After pursuing his graduate
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
stuides at the New York School of Social Work
New York School of Philanthropy
The New York School of Philanthropy was established in 1904. The School had its origins in 1898 with the first Summer School in Philanthropic Work offered in New York City. It was the first higher education program in the United States to train people in the field of social work. It began as a...
(1919-1920), McEntegart was named the first director of the Children's Division in the Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
of the Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
. During his tenure as director, he also taught courses in child welfare at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service
Fordham Graduate School of Social Service
The Fordham Graduate School of Social Service is a United States graduate school within Fordham University, in New York. Established in 1916, it provides instruction at three campuses in the New York City area. The school was ranked 18th in the nation by US News & World Report in 2009...
(1920-1930), served on the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Committee on Child Welfare under Presidents Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, and was director of the Child Welfare League of America
Child Welfare League of America
The Child Welfare League of America or CWLA is the oldest child welfare organization in the United States. The organization's primary objective is to "Make Children a National Priority...
(1931-1937). He was a curate at St. Frances de Sales Church from 1938 to 1941. In 1941 he was elected president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. From 1941 to 1943, he served as national secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
Catholic Near East Welfare Association
The Catholic Near East Welfare Association is an agency of the Holy See, founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926 to support the churches and peoples of the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. Its first President was Edmund A. Walsh, S.J. The current President is the Reverend Monsignor...
. He became the first executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 90 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and...
in 1943. He also served on the board of the United Service Organizations
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
for fourteen years.
On June 5, 1943, McEntegart was appointed the fifth Bishop of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following August 3 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edmund Gibbons
Edmund Gibbons
Edmund Francis Gibbons was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Albany from 1919 to 1954.-Biography:...
and Stephen Joseph Donahue
Stephen Joseph Donahue
Stephen Joseph Donahue was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1934 to 1972.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Shortly after his installation
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
, the Cathedral of Ogdensburg was destroyed by fire; however, McEntegart constructed a new edifice within months. From 1953 to 1957, he served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Catholic University of America. He was given the titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of Aradi on August 19, 1953. During his administration, he embarked on a large fund-raising campaign to expand all phases of the university's work.
Returning to New York, McEntegart was named the fourth Bishop of Brooklyn
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes territory that was previously part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, was established as a separate diocese in 1853 when the City of Brooklyn was separate from New York City....
on April 16, 1957. As such, he headed the largest diocese in the United States in terms of Catholic population. He was installed by Cardinal Francis Spellman on June 13, 1957. During his tenure he launched a multimillion-dollar building program, which included six high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s, Cathedral Preparatory Seminary
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary (Queens)
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary is a private, Roman Catholic high school and seminary in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn...
, a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
for training Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
's priests, and a four-year theological seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. He promoted outreach to the growing Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
population, sending priests and religious
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
to study Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and culture
Culture of Spain
The culture of Spain is based on a variety of influences.The Visigothic Kingdom left a sense of a united Christian Hispania that was going to be welded in the Reconquista. Muslim influences were strong during the period of 711 AD to the 15th century, especially linguistically...
. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
between 1962 and 1965; he implemented the reforms
Aggiornamento
-Code of Canon law:Originally, the word referred merely to an adjournment of the Code of Canon law, as John XXIII said himself in his 1959 speech. However, the Code of canon law was only completed in 1983, after a long delay of 18 years after the end of the Council...
of the Council, becoming a pioneer in the ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
movement and establishing the Pastoral Institute in 1967. He was given the personal title of Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
on April 15, 1966.
After eleven years as Bishop of Brooklyn, McEntegart resigned on July 17, 1968. Two months later, he died at his residence in the Fort Greene
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Fort Greene is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Part of Brooklyn Community Board 2, Fort Greene is listed on the New York State Registry and on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a New York City-designated Historic District...
section of Brooklyn, aged 75.