Joseph John Fox

Joseph John Fox (August 2, 1855 – March 14, 1915) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin from 1904 to 1914.

Joseph John Fox
Bishop of Green Bay
In office	1904-1914
Orders
Ordination	June 7, 1879
Consecration	June 25, 1905 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer
Personal details
Born	(1855-08-02)August 2, 1855 Green Bay, Wisconsin
Died	March 14, 1915(1915-03-14) (aged 59) Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Paul and Frances (née Bartel) Fox
Education	St. Francis Seminary
Alma mater	American College of Louvain

Biography

Early life, ordination and ministry

Joseph Fox was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Paul and Frances (née Bartel) Fox, who were German immigrants. He received his early education at the parochial school of the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in his native city. He made his classical studies at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee from 1870 to 1875.[1] He then studied philosophy and theology at the American College of Louvain in Belgium.[2] While in Belgium, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1879.[3]

Fox's first assignment, following his return to Wisconsin, was as pastor of St. Kilian Church in New Franken, where he remained for eight months.[1] He afterwards served at St. John the Baptist Church in Green Bay for three years, in addition to serving as secretary to Bishop Francis Krautbauer.[2] In 1883, he became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Marinette, serving there for eleven years.[1] He served as vicar general of the diocese from 1894 to 1904, and was named a domestic prelate by Pope Leo XIII in 1898.[2]

Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin

On May 27, 1904, Fox was appointed the fifth Bishop of Green Bay by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 25 from Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, with Bishops William Stang and Frederick Eis serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was the first and only native son of the diocese to become its bishop.[4] During his tenure, he built a new episcopal residence, which later became the diocesan chancery (now demolished), and displayed a strong interest in education and advancing the parochial school system.[4] Fox was a contributor to the Catholic Encyclopedia.[5]

Fox resigned as Bishop of Green Bay on November 7, 1914; he was appointed Titular Bishop of Ionopolis by Pope Benedict XV on the same date.[3] He died in Chicago on March 14, 1915 at age 59.[6]

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

Notes

1. History of Brown County, Wisconsin: Past and Present. II. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1913.
2. Leonard, John William, ed. (1906). Who's Who in America. Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Company.
3. Cheney, David M. "Bishop Joseph John Fox". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
4. "Bishops of the Diocese of Green Bay". Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
5. The Catholic Encyclopedia and its makers. New York: The Encyclopedia Press. 1917. pp. 60. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. "Begin Services Tonight for Soul of the Departed Bishop, Joseph J. Fox at Cathedral". Green Bay Gazette. March 16, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Sebastian Gebhard Messmer	Bishop of Green Bay 1904–1914	Succeeded by Paul Peter Rhode