Church Catholic Church Consecration June 25, 1976 Ordination October 7, 1950 | Died September 1, 1997 Name Joseph Francis Appointed May 3, 1976 | |
See Titular See of Valliposita In office June 25, 1976 - June 30, 1995 | ||
Joseph Abel Francis, S.V.D. (September 30, 1923 – September 1, 1997) was a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark from 1976 to 1995.
Biography
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Joseph Francis was ordained a priest for the Society of the Divine Word on October 7, 1950.
On May 3, 1976 Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Valliposita and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark. He was consecrated by Archbishop Peter Gerety on June 25, 1976. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Boland and Auxiliary Bishop Harold Perry, S.V.D. of New Orleans. Francis continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on June 30, 1995. He died at the age of 73 on September 1, 1997.