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American prelate
Romeo Roy Blanchette (January 6, 1913 – January 10, 1982) was an American prelate of the
Roman Catholic Church . He served as bishop of the
Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1966 to 1979.
The Coat of Arms of Bishop Blanchette
Biography
Early life
Romeo Blanchette was born on January 6, 1913, in
Kankakee County, Illinois , to Oscar and Josephine (née Langlois) Blanchette.
[1] After attending
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in
Chicago from 1928 to 1931, he studied at
St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, receiving a
Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.
[1]
Priesthood
Blanchette was
ordained to the priesthood for the
Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal
George Mundelein on April 3, 1937, upon the recommendation of rector
Reynold Henry Hillenbrand .
[2] He continued his studies in Rome at the
Pontifical Gregorian University , earning a
Licentiate of Canon Law in 1939.
[1] Blanchette served as a notary of the
matrimonial court for the archdiocese. (1938-1949). When the Diocese of Joliet was erected in 1949, Bishop
Martin McNamara made him
chancellor there.
[1] In 1950, Blanchette was named
vicar general of the diocese and a
domestic prelate .
[1]
Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Joliet
On February 8, 1965, Blanchette was appointed as an
auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Joliet and
titular bishop of
Maxita by
Pope Paul VI .
[2] He received his
episcopal
consecration on April 3, 1965, from Archbishop
Egidio Vagnozzi , with Bishops
William Aloysius O'Connor and
Ernest John Primeau serving as
co-consecrators .
[2] Blanchette attended the fourth session of the
Second Vatican Council .
Following the death of Bishop McNamara, Blanchette was named by Pope Paul as the second bishop of Joliet on July 19, 1966.
[2]
[3]
Retirement and legacy
On January 30, 1979, Pope John Paul II accepted Blanchette's resignation as Bishop of Joliet after he was diagnosed with
Lou Gehrig's disease .
[2]
[4] Romeo Blanchette died of that disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet on January 10, 1982, at age 69.
[4]
[5]
In a 2015 lawsuit brought against the diocese by
sexual abuse victims, it was revealed that Blanchette ignored warnings about the behavior of certain seminarians. The diocese settled with the victims for over $4 million.
He allowed the ordination of Lawrence Gibbs in 1973, despite complaints about his behavior from administrators at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary. Gibbs eventually molested 14 boys.
Blanchette allowed James Nowak to be ordained, despite knowing that the
Capuchin Order had dismissed him due to his failure to keep his
vow of chastity . Nowak eventually abused eight children.
[6]
References
Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Bishops Coadjutor bishop Archbishops
Churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago
Cathedral Basilicas Churches
List
List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago
Holy Cross Church
Holy Family Church
Holy Innocents Church
Holy Trinity Church
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Nativity of Our Lord Church
Notre Dame de Chicago
Old St. Patrick's Church
Sacred Heart Church
St. Barbara Church
St. Clement Church
St. Edward's Church
St. Hedwig's Church
St. Ita's Church
St. John Cantius Church
St. Josaphat Church
St. Joseph Church
St. Jerome Croatian Church
St. Ladislaus Church
St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church
St. Mary of the Angels Church
St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church
St. Michael's Church, Old Town
St. Michael the Archangel Church, South Shore
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church
St. Thomas the Apostle Church
St. Vincent de Paul Church
Church of St. Vitus
St. Wenceslaus Church
Cook County
Holy Family Church, North Chicago
St. Anne Church, Barrington
St. Mary of Częstochowa Church, Cicero
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Glenview
SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, Lemont
St. James Church, Lemont
St. Martha Church, Morton Grove
St. John Brebeuf Church, Niles
St. Joseph Church, Wilmette
Chapels
Education in the Archdiocese of Chicago
Higher education Seminaries High schools
Chicago
Brother Rice High School
Christ the King Jesuit College Prep High School
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
De La Salle Institute
DePaul College Prep
Hales Franciscan High School
Holy Trinity High School
Josephinum Academy
Leo Catholic High School
Marist High School
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
Mount Carmel High School
Notre Dame High School for Girls
Our Lady of Tepeyac High School
Resurrection High School
St. Benedict High School
St. Francis de Sales High School
St. Ignatius College Preparatory School
St. Patrick High School
St. Rita of Cascia High School
Cook County
St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights
St. Laurence High School, Burbank
Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights
Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park
Mount Assisi Academy, Lemont
Notre Dame College Prep, Niles
Fenwick High School, Oak Park
Trinity High School, River Forest
Guerin College Preparatory High School, River Grove
Seton Academy, South Holland
St. Joseph High School, Westchester
Loyola Academy, Wilmette
Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette
Lake County
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest
Carmel High School, Mundelein
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Waukegan
Former
Clergy of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Auxiliary bishops Priests who became bishop elsewhere Priests