- John Mary Odin
John Mary Odin (
February 25 ,1807 -May 25 ,1870 ) was a notedRoman Catholic prelate . He was born in Ambierle,France , in 1807.He attended the Seminary of
St. Mary's of the Barrens , inPerry County, Missouri , and was ordained to the priesthood in 1824. He served as amissionary inArkansas andMissouri , and later director of the seminary at which he studied from 1824-1840, except for a period in 1833-1835 when he went to Europe to seek funds and personnel for his work. He was appointed the vice prefect ofTexas in 1840, and served in that position until 1842. OnJuly 16 ,1841 , he became the firstvicar apostolic ofTexas (and bishop "in partibus" ofClaudiopolis ). OnMay 4 ,1847 , he was ordained the first bishop ofGalveston, Texas . He remained in that position through 1861. During his time there, he founded the College of the Immaculate Conception there, and made annual trips through his diocese preaching to the Native Americans and settlers. In 1867, he was appointedarchbishop ofNew Orleans , and remained at that position through 1870, including a trip to theFirst Vatican Council . He died in Ambierle in 1870. His enduring legacy includes the consolidation of the Catholic Church in Texas, and the establishment of the "Morning Star",Louisiana 's firstEnglish language Catholicnewspaper .References
*"Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896." Chicago: Quincy Who's Who, 1963.
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/OO/fod2.html biographical sketch at Handbook of Texas Online]
*CathEncy|wstitle=John Mary Odin
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