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Francis James Furey

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Francis James Furey
Archbishop of San Antonio
titular bishop of Temnus
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeArchdiocese of San Antonio
InstalledMay 13, 1969
Term endedApril 23, 1979
PredecessorRobert Emmet Lucey
SuccessorPatrick Flores
Other post(s)Bishop of San Diego
(1966–1969)
Coadjutor Bishop of San Diego (1963–1966)
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia (1960–1963)
Orders
OrdinationMarch 15, 1930
by Basilio Pompili
ConsecrationDecember 22, 1960
by Egidio Vagnozzi
Personal details
Born(1905-02-22)February 22, 1905
Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, US
DiedApril 23, 1979(1979-04-23) (aged 74)
San Antonio, Texas, US
EducationSt. Charles Borromeo Seminary
Pontifical Roman Major Seminary

Francis James Furey (February 22, 1905 – April 23, 1979) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

He served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania from 1960 to 1863, as bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in California from 1966 to 1969 and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in Texas from 1969 to 1979.

Styles of
Francis James Furey
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Biography

Early life

The eldest of five children, Francis Furey was born on February 22, 1905, in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, to John and Anna (née O'Donnell) Furey.[1] After attending public schools in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, he graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1920 as valedictorian.[2] Furey then attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania, for four years. He then traveled to Rome to enter the Pontifical Roman Seminary, from where he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1926 and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1930.[1][3]

Priesthood

Furey was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Basilio Pompili on March 15, 1930.[4] Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as private secretary to Cardinal Dennis Dougherty.[5] Furey was appointed in 1936 as president of Immaculata College in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. He left Immaculata College in 1946 to become rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.[5] He was named a domestic prelate in 1947.[1] In 1958, Furey left his position as rector to became pastor of St. Helena's Parish in Philadelphia.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

On August 17, 1960, Furey was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Temnus by Pope John XXIII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on December 22, 1960, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops Joseph McShea and Joseph McCormick serving as co-consecrators.[4]

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of San Diego

Pope Paul VI appointed Furey as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of San Diego on July 21, 1963.[4] After the death of Bishop Charles F. Buddy on March 5, 1966, Furey automatically succeeded him as bishop.[4] He served on the administrative tribunal of the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965.[5]

Archbishop of San Antonio

On May 23, 1969, Furey was appointed as the third archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio by Paul VI.[4] After his installation, Furey decided not to move into the large bishop's residence, choosing instead a two-room apartment in a poor part of the city.[3]

Furey established one of the first diocesan commissions for Mexican American affairs in the United States, and promoted the candidacy in 1970 of Reverend Patrick Flores as the first Mexican American bishop in the country.[5][3] Furey was an outspoken supporter of Communities Organized for Public Service, a community organizing group in San Antonio.[5][3] He also supported the Farah strike (October 1973) and the lettuce boycotts of the Texas Farm Workers Union.[5] He held various offices within the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, including chair of the Committee for the Campaign for Human Development.[5]

Furey was chaplain of the Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus, bishop protector of the Catholic War Veterans of the US, and appointed by Texas Governor Preston Smith to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Commission.[5] He was an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps, and received honorary degrees from La Salle College, St. Joseph College, Villanova University, St. John's University, Brooklyn, New York; Mount St. Mary's University, and Our Lady of the Lake University.[5]

Death and legacy

Francis Furey died of cancer in San Antonio on April 23, 1979, at age 74.[3] He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in San Antonio.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ "St. Mary's and Marian". Coaldale High School Alumni.
  3. ^ a b c d e Briggs, Kenneth A. (1979-04-25). "Archbishop Francis James Furey". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Archbishop Francis James Furey". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "FUREY, FRANCIS JAMES (1905-1979)". Handbook of Texas Online.

5. Francis James Furey's Niece Dolores Fennell

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
1960–1966 		Succeeded by
–
Preceded by Titular Bishop of Temnus
1960–1966 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by Bishop of San Diego
1966–1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Archbishop of San Antonio
1969–1979 		Succeeded by
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