Most Reverend Ralph L. Hayes, STD |
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Bishop of Davenport | |
Church | Catholic Church |
Appointed | November 16, 1944 |
In office | January 11, 1945 – October 20, 1966 |
Predecessor | Henry Patrick Rohlman |
Successor | Gerald Francis O'Keefe |
Orders | |
Ordination | September 19, 1909 by Pietro Respighi |
Consecration | September 21, 1933 by Hugh Charles Boyle |
Personal details | |
Born |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
September 21, 1884
Died | July 5, 1970 Davenport, Iowa |
(aged 85)
Previous post |
Bishop of Helena Titular Bishop of Hieropolis Rector of the North American College |
Motto |
Opere et veritate (In action and truth) |
Ralph Leo Hayes (September 21, 1884 – July 5, 1970) was a 20th-century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena in the state of Montana from 1933–1935, and as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1944–1966. Between those two appointments he served as the rector of the Pontifical North American College from 1935–1944.
Hayes was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Patrick Nagle and Mary Jane (O’Donnell) Hayes. He received his high school and college education at Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University). He played on the school football, basketball and baseball teams while in college, and in the summer on a semi-pro baseball team. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College and the University of the Congregation of Propagation of the Faith in Rome. He was ordained a priest there by Cardinal Pietro Respighi for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on September 19, 1909. He initially served in a parish before he was appointed to the diocesan mission band where he eventually served as its director. From 1917–1925 he was superintendent of schools for the Pittsburgh Diocese. He then spent seven years as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Pittsburgh doing what he called ‘’real priest’s work.”
On June 23, 1933, Pope Pius XI appointed Hayes as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena and he was consecrated bishop on September 21, 1933 by Bishop Hugh C. Boyle of Pittsburgh. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops James A. Griffin of Springfield in Illinois and Alphonse J. Smith of Nashville. Both co-consecrators were classmates of his in Rome. He served the diocese as its bishop for two years.