His
Eminence Albert Gregory Meyer, S.T.D., S.S.L. 1953 - 1958
Born on March 9, 1903, in Milwaukee,
Albert Gregory Meyer was educated by the School Sisters of
Notre Dame at Old St. Mary’s School and attended Saint Francis
Seminary. He was ordained a priest on July 11, 1926, in Rome.
He was the first archbishop of Milwaukee who was born, raised
and educated in his own archdiocese.
After completing his education in Rome with
a licentiate in sacred scripture at the Pontifical Biblical
Institute, Meyer returned to Milwaukee. There he served one
year as an associate pastor in Waukesha and then accepted
an appointment to teach dogma and ascetical theology at Saint
Francis Seminary.
Meyer was appointed Bishop of the Superior
Diocese in Wisconsin and was consecrated bishop in 1946. During
his time in Superior, he produced a set of sermon outlines
that were used by priests statewide.
He was appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee
on July 21, 1953, and returned to Milwaukee as it was approaching
a period of the most dramatic growth in its history. Over
100,000 new Catholics came into the diocese, and Meyer launched
a $3,230,000 building program, which included improvements
to the facilities of Saint Francis Seminary.
Building projects during his episcopacy
produced the greatest building activity in the history of
the diocese. During the five years of Meyer’s episcopate,
17 new parishes were established and five missions were converted
to parish status.
He initiated a statewide Catholic census
and religious information program that resulted in many converts.
He also paid particular attention to the growing black population
in Milwaukee and fought city authorities to preserve Blessed
Martin Parish.
During Meyer’s tenure as archbishop, lay
participation in the work of the Church increased. In 1958
he established a Council of Catholic Men to complement the
existing Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women.
He also emphasized the need for proper dress
in his 1956 pastoral letter on “Decency and Modesty.”
Appointed to succeed Cardinal Stritch in
Chicago, Meyer left Milwaukee on September 24, 1958, and was
installed as Archbishop of Chicago on November 16, 1958. There
he worked with problems such as racial discrimination in parishes
and schools. Meyer was made Cardinal on December 14, 1959.
At the Second Vatican Council, Meyer was
a leading prelate (theological expert) due to his outstanding
knowledge of Latin and other languages, as well as his appreciation
for newer trends in biblical and historical theology.
Cardinal Meyer died in Chicago on April
9, 1965 from a brain tumor.
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