George Kinzie Fitzsimons
George Kinzie Fitzsimons (September 4, 1928 – July 28, 2013) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salina from 1984 to 2004.
The Most Rev. George Kinzie Fitzsimons | |
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Bishop of Salina | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
See | Salina |
In office | May 29, 1984 – October 21, 2004 |
Predecessor | Daniel Kucera |
Successor | Paul Stagg Coakley |
Orders | |
Ordination | March 18, 1961 |
Consecration | July 3, 1975 |
Personal details | |
Born | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | September 4, 1928
Died | July 28, 2013 84) Ogden, Kansas, U.S. | (aged
Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph (1975-1984) |
Biography
George Fitzsimons was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to George K. and Margaret Mary (née Donavan) Fitzsimons, both native Kansans.[1] He belonged to St. Francis Xavier Church as a child, and attended Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst University in Kansas City.[1] Various lay ministries that were expanded and developed included Liturgists, Religious Education Coordinators, Youth ministers, Ministers to the elderly and Pastoral Assistants. In 1952-53, before joining the priesthood, Lt Fitzsimons served as a naval aviator with U.S. Navy Patrol Squadron VP-49. After serving in the U.S. Air Force (1950–1954) and briefly in business, he began his studies for the priesthood at Conception Seminary in Missouri.[1]
Fitzsimons was ordained a priest by Bishop John Cody on March 18, 1961.[2] He then served as an associate pastor, high school teacher, college chaplain, chancellor/Vicar General of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.[1]
On May 20, 1975, Fitzsimons was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Titular Bishop of Pertusa by Pope Paul VI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 3 from Bishop Charles Herman Helmsing, with Archbishop William Wakefield Baum and Bishop Joseph Vincent Sullivan serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City.[2]
Fitzsimons was named the eighth Bishop of Salina, Kansas, on March 28, 1984.[2] He was serving as pastor of Christ the King Church in Kansas City at the time of his appointment.[3] He was installed by Archbishop Strecker at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina on the following May 29.[1]
During his tenure, he established an Office of Lay Ministry, with a director and an advisory Board, funded and initiated by the Catholic Church Extension Society in Chicago, as well as a Rural Life Commission. He initiated the RENEW parish spiritual growth program.[1] Marymount College closed in 1989 because of financial difficulties.[1] Due to a declining population and priest shortage, he was also forced to merge several parishes but did erect St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Hays and St. Thomas More Church in Manhattan.[1]
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Bishop Fitzsimons resigned as Bishop on October 21, 2004.[2] Bishop Emeritus Fitzsimons then resided at St. Patrick Parish in Ogden. In 2008, his lower left leg was amputated due to a severe infection; he then used a prosthesis.[1]
He died at age 84 in Ogden on July 28, 2013.
See also
References
- "Bishop George K. Fitzsimons: 1984-2004". Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina. Archived from the original on 2010-05-24.
- "Bishop George Kinzie Fitzsimons". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- "Our History". Christ the King Church. Archived from the original on 2009-08-03.
Catholic Church titles | ||
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Preceded by Daniel Kucera |
Bishop of Salina 1984–2004 |
Succeeded by Paul Stagg Coakley |