John Joyce Russell

infobox bishopbiog
name = Most Rev. John Joyce Russell †


religion = Roman Catholic Church
See = Richmond
Title = Bishop of Richmond
Period = July 3, 1958 — April 28, 1973
Predecessor = Most Rev. Peter Leo Ireton
Successor = Most Rev. Walter Francis Sullivan
date of birth = December 1, 1897
place of birth = Baltimore, Maryland
date of death = death date and age|1993|03|17|1897|12|01

John Joyce Russell (December 1, 1897—March 17, 1993) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Bishop of Richmond from 1958 to 1973.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 8, 1923.

On January 28, 1950, Russell was appointed Bishop of Charleston by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 14 from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle and Bishop John McNamara serving as co-consecrators.

Russell was later named the tenth Bishop of Richmond on July 3, 1958, being installed as such on September 30 of that same year. From 1962 to 1965 he attended the Second Vatican Council. In implementing the Council's reforms, Bishop Russell established a Diocesan Commission on Ecumenical Affairs in 1963, and a Diocesan Pastoral Council and a Council of Priests in 1966 [The Catholic Diocese of Richmond. [http://www.richmonddiocese.org/archives/briefhistory.htm History of the Diocese of Richmond] ] . A champion of civil rights, he had the parents of prospective students for Richmond's Catholic schools be interviewed for signs of racism [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905831-2,00.html Bumpy Road in Richmond] February 28, 1972] .

After fourteen years of service, he resigned as Bishop of Richmond on April 28, 1973. Russell later died at St. Joseph's Home in Richmond [The Catholic Virginian. [http://www.catholicvirginian.org/archive/2006/2006vol81iss23/pages/2006vol81iss23.html Little Sisters of the Poor welcome international superior to Richmond] September 11, 2006] , run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, at the age of 95.

Trivia

*Russell was a schoolmate of Francis J. Parater, now a Servant of God [Catholic Diocese of Arlington. [http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/vocations/frankparater.html Servant of God, Seminarian Frank Parater] ] .
*John Russell was the identity of the fictional character of "Bishop Leo James Russeton" in Malachi Martin's last novel, "Windswept House"(deceased 1993)

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brussellj.html Catholic-Hierarchy]
* [http://www.richmonddiocese.org/archives/bishops.htm Catholic Diocese of Richmond]