Michael Ryan Patrick Dempsey (September 10, 1918 – January 8, 1974) was an American Catholic prelate who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1968 to 1974.
His Excellency, The Most Reverend Michael Dempsey | |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Titular See of Truentum |
| In office | June 13, 1968 - January 8, 1974 |
| Other posts | President, National Catholic Crusade Against Poverty |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 1, 1943 by Samuel Stritch |
| Consecration | June 13, 1968 by John Cody |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 10, 1918 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Died | January 8, 1974 (aged 55) Chicago |
| Motto | Deus meus adjutor meus (My God is my helper) |
Biography
editEarly life and ordination
editMichael Dempsey was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 10, 1918.[1] He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 1, 1943, by Archbishop Samuel Stritch[1] Dempsey would spend 30 years serving parishes in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. During the 1960s, Dempsey was serving as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.[2]
Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
editOn June 13, 1968 Pope Paul VI appointed Dempsey as the titular bishop of Truentum and as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago. He was consecrated by Cardinal John Cody on June 13, 1968 in Sacred Heart Chapel at the Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops Ernest John Primeau and Cletus F. O'Donnell.[1]
Dempsey was a founder and the first president in 1969 of the National Catholic Crusade Against Poverty, a group dedicated to promoting self-help among the poor and a willingness to fight for social justice. One of Dempsey's favorite sayings was "Poverty just doesn’t have to be, and the Lord gave us the vision to overcome it in our time.”[2][3] In 1970, Dempsey announced a $50 million fundraising drive for the organization.[4]
Death
editDempsey died in Chicago from a heart attack on January 8, 1974.[1][5][2] The National Catholic Crusade continues as of 2025 as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, run by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.[6]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Bishop Michael Ryan Patrick Dempsey". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Pittsburgh Catholic 18 January 1974 — The Catholic News Archive". thecatholicnewsarchive.org. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ↑ McClory, Robert J. "The fight over fighting poverty: CCHD and the push for reform". U.S. Catholic. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ↑ "Catholics Plan $50‐Million Drive To Combat Poverty in the Nation". The New York Times. October 2, 1970. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ↑ "Bishops who are not Ordinaries of Sees". Giga-Catholic. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Catholic Campaign for Human Development | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
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