John Baptist Pitaval
Encyclopedia
John Baptist Pitaval was a French
-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Archbishop of Santa Fe
from 1909 to 1918.
, Loire
, and made his preliminary studies for the priesthood
in the Archdiocese of Lyon
. In 1881, he came to the United States
and entered St. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore
, Maryland
. He was ordained
a priest by Bishop Joseph Projectus Machebeuf
in Denver, Colorado
, on December 24, 1881. For twenty-one years, he devoted himself to missionary
work in Colorado.
On May 15, 1902, Pitaval was appointed titular bishop
of Sora and auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
in New Mexico
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following July 25 from Archbishop Peter Bourgade
, with Bishops Nicholas Chrysostom Matz
and Henry Regis Granjon
serving as co-consecrators
. He succeeded Bourgade as Archbishop of Santa Fe
on January 3, 1909. He administered the archdiocese until his resignation on July 29, 1918; he was named titular archbishop of Amida on the same date. He died ten years later, aged 70.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born clergyman 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 Archbishop of Santa Fe
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the southwestern region of the United States in the state of New Mexico. While the motherchurch, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is in the City of Santa Fe, its administrative center is in...
from 1909 to 1918.
Biography
John Baptist Pitaval was born in Saint-GenisSaint-Genis
Saint-Genis is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
, and made his preliminary studies for 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....
in the Archdiocese of Lyon
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lyon
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lyon is a Roman Catholic Metropolitan archdiocese in France. It incorporates the ancient Archdiocese of Vienne. The current Cardinal-Archbishop is Philippe Barbarin...
. In 1881, he came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and entered St. Mary's Seminary
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. 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....
a priest by Bishop Joseph Projectus Machebeuf
Joseph Projectus Machebeuf
Joseph Projectus Machebeuf was a French Roman Catholic missionary and the first Bishop of Denver.-Biography:...
in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, on December 24, 1881. For twenty-one years, he devoted himself to missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work in Colorado.
On May 15, 1902, Pitaval was appointed titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sora and auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the southwestern region of the United States in the state of New Mexico. While the motherchurch, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is in the City of Santa Fe, its administrative center is in...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. 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 July 25 from Archbishop Peter Bourgade
Peter Bourgade
Peter Bourgade was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Tucson and Archbishop of Santa Fe ....
, with Bishops Nicholas Chrysostom Matz
Nicholas Chrysostom Matz
Nicholas Chrysostom Matz was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Denver from 1889 until his death in 1917.-Biography:...
and Henry Regis Granjon
Henry Regis Granjon
Henry Regis Granjon was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Tucson from 1900 until his death in 1922.-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...
. He succeeded Bourgade as Archbishop of Santa Fe
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the southwestern region of the United States in the state of New Mexico. While the motherchurch, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is in the City of Santa Fe, its administrative center is in...
on January 3, 1909. He administered the archdiocese until his resignation on July 29, 1918; he was named titular archbishop of Amida on the same date. He died ten years later, aged 70.