Norbert Felix Gaughan
Encyclopedia
Norbert Felix Gaughan was a bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop
of Diocese of Greensburg
in the state of Pennsylvania
from 1975–1984, and bishop of the Diocese of Gary
in the state of Indiana
from 1984-1996.
on November 4, 1945 for the Diocese of Greensburg. On April 2, 1975 he was named Titular Bishop
of Taraqua and Auxiliary Bishop of Greensburg by Pope Paul VI
. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop William G. Connare
of Greensburg. Bishops Cyril John Vogel
, of Salina
and John Bernard McDowell
an auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh
, were the principal co-consecrators. He served the diocese as an auxiliary for nine years until Pope John Paul II named him the second bishop of Gary on July 24, 1984. He served the Gary diocese as its bishop for a total of 12 years. However, in February 1992, Bishop Gaughan suffered a debilitating stroke
. Because of his health situation, the pope appointed Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek
, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit
, to be the Apostolic Administrator
of the diocese.
On October 28, 1995 the pope appointed Bishop Melczek to be the coadjutor bishop
of the diocese. On June 1, 1996 the Holy See
accepted Bishop Gaughan's resignation.
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 the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as 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 Diocese of Greensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
The Diocese of Greensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania that has 85 parishes in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania. The diocese was founded on March 10, 1951, and is currently in the process of reorganization...
in the state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1975–1984, and bishop of the Diocese of Gary
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary is a Roman Catholic diocese in Indiana. It was founded on December 10, 1956.-Bishops:#Andrew Gregory Grutka #Norbert Felix Gaughan #Dale Joseph Melczek...
in the state of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
from 1984-1996.
Biography
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania he was ordained a Catholic priestPriest
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...
on November 4, 1945 for the Diocese of Greensburg. On April 2, 1975 he was named 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 Taraqua and Auxiliary Bishop of Greensburg 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...
. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop William G. Connare
William G. Connare
William Graham Connare was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Greensburg from 1960 to 1987.-Early life and education:...
of Greensburg. Bishops Cyril John Vogel
Cyril John Vogel
Cyril John Vogel was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salina from 1965 until his death in 1979.-Biography:...
, of Salina
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
and John Bernard McDowell
John Bernard McDowell
John Bernard McDowell was the Roman Catholic titular bishop of Tamazuca and the auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
an auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
, were the principal co-consecrators. He served the diocese as an auxiliary for nine years until Pope John Paul II named him the second bishop of Gary on July 24, 1984. He served the Gary diocese as its bishop for a total of 12 years. However, in February 1992, Bishop Gaughan suffered a debilitating stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. Because of his health situation, the pope appointed Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek
Dale Joseph Melczek
Dale Joseph Melczek is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the third and current Bishop of Gary.-Biography:...
, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
, to be the Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the diocese.
On October 28, 1995 the pope appointed Bishop Melczek to be the coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of the diocese. On June 1, 1996 the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
accepted Bishop Gaughan's resignation.