Diocese Grand Rapids Appointed 24 June 1989 Term ended 13 October 2003 | See Grand Rapids Installed 30 August 1989 Name Robert Rose | |
Predecessor Joseph Matthew Breitenbeck | ||
Robert John Rose (born February 28, 1930) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Gaylord (1981–89) and Bishop of Grand Rapids (1989–2003).
Biography
Rose was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Urban Henry and Maida Ann (nee Glerum) Rose. He attended St. Joseph's Seminary in Grand Rapids (1944–50) before studying at the Grand Seminary of Montreal (1950–52). He continued his studies at the University de Propaganda Fide in Rome, where he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1956. He ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Clemente Micara on December 21, 1955.
Following his return to Grand Rapids, Rose became a professor at St. Joseph's Seminary in August 1956. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1962. He became dean of the college department at St. Joseph's Seminary in July 1966, and served director of the deacon program from 1969 to 1971. In June 1971, he was appointed rector of St. John's Seminary in Plymouth. He was later named pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Muskegon Heights in August 1977.
On October 13, 1981, Rose was appointed the second Bishop of Gaylord by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 6 from Archbishop Edmund Szoka, with Bishops Joseph M. Breitenbeck and Joseph Crescent McKinney serving as co-consecrators, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Gaylord. Following the retirement of Bishop Breitenbeck, Rose was appointed the ninth Bishop of Grand Rapids on June 24, 1989. His installation took place on August 30 of that year.
Rose retired as Bishop of Grand Rapids on October 13, 2003. He was succeeded by Bishop Kevin Michael Britt, who died within a year of taking office. Britt, in turn, was succeeded by Bishop Walter A. Hurley.