John R. Gaydos
Encyclopedia
John Raymond Gaydos is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the third and current Bishop of Jefferson City
.
, Missouri
, to George and Carrie (née Lee) Gaydos. He graduated from St. Agnes School
in 1957, and then attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary from 1957 to 1961, whence he entered Cardinal Glennon College. After graduating in 1965, Gaydos went to Rome
to study at the Pontifical North American College
and Pontifical Gregorian University
, from where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Dogmatic Theology
in 1969. During his studies in Rome, he was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Francis Reh
on December 20, 1968, in St. Peter's Basilica
.
Upon his return to the United States
, he served as associate pastor
of St. Joseph Parish in Manchester
until 1974, and of St. Cecilia Parish
in St. Louis until 1977. Gaydos was the secretary
of John Cardinal Carberry and Vice-Chancellor
of St. Louis
from 1977 to 1981, and then secretary to Archbishop John May
and full Chancellor until 1990. He became pastor of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood
in 1990, and vicar general
of St. Louis on February 14, 1996.
On June 25, 1997, Gaydos was appointed the third Bishop of Jefferson City
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 27 from Archbishop Justin Rigali, with Bishop Michael McAuliffe
and Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb
serving as co-consecrators
at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, Gaydos served as Chairman
of the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, and currently sits on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, Administrative Committee, and Committee for Communications.
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 is the third and current Bishop of Jefferson City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on July 2, 1956 from territory taken from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Diocese of Kansas City, and the Diocese of Saint...
.
Biography
John Gaydos was born in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, to George and Carrie (née Lee) Gaydos. He graduated from St. Agnes School
St. Agnes School
St. Agnes School is a school in Old Jefferson. It is a elementary school and a middle school founded in 1941. The school holds children from grades Pre-K 3 through 8th grade. The school is the Home of the Crusaders.-Mission:"Our mission at St...
in 1957, and then attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary from 1957 to 1961, whence he entered Cardinal Glennon College. After graduating in 1965, Gaydos went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to study at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
and Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, from where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Dogmatic Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
in 1969. During his studies in Rome, 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 Bishop Francis Reh
Francis Frederick Reh
Francis Frederick Reh was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston , rector of the Pontifical North American College , and Bishop of Saginaw ....
on December 20, 1968, in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
.
Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he served as associate pastor
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...
of St. Joseph Parish in Manchester
Manchester, Missouri
Manchester is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 18,094 at the 2010 census. The mayor is David Willson.-Geography:Manchester is located at ....
until 1974, and of St. Cecilia Parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
in St. Louis until 1977. Gaydos was the secretary
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
of John Cardinal Carberry and Vice-Chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of St. Louis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is the Roman Catholic archdiocese that covers the City of St. Louis as well as the following Missouri counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, Saint Charles, Saint Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St...
from 1977 to 1981, and then secretary to Archbishop John May
John L. May
John Lawrence May was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mobile and Archbishop of St. Louis .-Early life and education:...
and full Chancellor until 1990. He became pastor of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood
Kirkwood, Missouri
Kirkwood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood, builder of the Pacific Railroad through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west...
in 1990, and vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of St. Louis on February 14, 1996.
On June 25, 1997, Gaydos was appointed the third Bishop of Jefferson City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on July 2, 1956 from territory taken from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Diocese of Kansas City, and the Diocese of Saint...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
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....
on the following August 27 from Archbishop Justin Rigali, with Bishop Michael McAuliffe
Michael Francis McAuliffe
Michael Francis McAuliffe was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the second bishop of the Bishop of Jefferson City.-Biography:...
and Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb
Oscar Hugh Lipscomb
Oscar Hugh Lipscomb is the retired Roman Catholic Archbishop of Mobile, Alabama. Lipscomb's retirement was accepted by the Holy See April 2, 2008.He was the first Archbishop of Mobile and its eighth bishop...
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 the Cathedral of Saint Joseph
Cathedral of Saint Joseph
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is the Mother Church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri. The cathedral serves as the parish church for the Bishop, who is currently the Most Reverend John R. Gaydos, the third Bishop of Jefferson City. The Cathedral sits on a site that also...
.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, Gaydos served as Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, and currently sits on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, Administrative Committee, and Committee for Communications.