Anthony John King Mussio

Anthony John King Mussio (June 13, 1902 – April 15, 1978) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Steubenville, Ohio (1945–1977).

Photograph from about 1973

Biography

John Mussio was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to John Edward and Blanche (née King) Mussio.[1] After graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1920, he studied at Xavier University, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1924.[2] He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in St. Joseph County, Indiana and, returning to Cincinnati, studied at the College-Conservatory of Music.[2] While serving as an English professor at Xavier University from 1925 to 1930, he also studied law at the University of Cincinnati.[2] He entered St. Gregory Preparatory Seminary in 1930 and afterwards Mount St. Mary's Seminary in 1932.[1]

Mussio was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John T. McNicholas, O.P., on August 15, 1935.[3] Furthering his studies in Rome, he earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum in 1939 with a dissertation entitled The education of offspring : a primary end or matrimony[4] Following his return to Cincinnati that year, he became assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.[2] He was named chancellor of the archdiocese and a Papal Chamberlain in 1942.[2] In addition to his other duties, he taught canon law at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.[2]

On March 10, 1945, Mussio was appointed the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Steubenville by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 1 from Archbishop McNicholas, with Bishops Michael Joseph Ready and George John Rehring serving as co-consecrators, at St. Monica's Pro-Cathedral.[3] He was installed at Holy Name Cathedral on May 23, 1945.[3] During his 32-year-long tenure, he established 73 parishes and 20 missions, the College of Steubenville, St. John Vianney Seminary, a Camaldolese hermitage, Samaritan House, Catholic Social Services, and St. John's Villa.[5] He also founded the diocesan newspaper, The Steubenville Register.[5] He was appointed an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne on June 8, 1960.[2] Between 1962 and 1965, Mussio attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council. In accord with the Council's reforms, he established the Steubenville Ecumenical Institute to foster better relationships among Christians and Jews.[5] In addition to his duties as diocesan bishop, he served as a member of the Episcopal Commission of the Legion of Decency and as episcopal moderator of the Catholic Broadcasters Association.[2]

After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Mussio resigned as Bishop of Steubenville on September 27, 1977.[3] He died less than seven months later.

References

1. Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
2. "Bishop Mussio". Bishop John King Mussio Central Elementary School.
3. "Bishop John Anthony King Mussio". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
4. https://books.google.com/books?id=67MNAQAAIAAJ Accessed 15 Jan., 2015; The American Catholic Who's Who, vol. 14, ed. Georgina Pell Curtis, Benedict Elder, p. 340
5. "Our History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by none	Bishop of Steubenville 1945—1977	Succeeded by Albert Henry Ottenweller