The Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, Monsignor Robert John Armstrong was born in San Francisco, California. Moving with his family to the state of Washington, he studied at Gonzaga University and the Grand Séminaire in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Ordained priest for the diocese of Seattle on December 10, 1910, he served as a curate in Spokane and pastor of St. Paul's Church in Yakima, Washington from 1914 until 1929, when he was elected Bishop of Sacramento by Pope Pius XI, receiving his episcopal consecration on March 12 that year from Bishop Edward John O'Dea of Seattle, assisted by Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and Joseph Francis McGrath.
During his 28 years as Bishop of Sacramento, Bishop Armstrong built more churches, schools and religious facilities than had been built in the entire previous history of the Sacramento Diocese. In addition to opening 21 chapels and 31 mission churches, he increased the number of parishes from 52 to 79. During his administration, 21 schools were built and Catholic school enrollment increased from 3,000 to 11,500.
Diagnosed with cancer which caused his death in 1957, aware of his deteriorating health, Pope Pius XII appointed Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Thomas McGucken as Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento on October 26, 1955. Two years later, after the death of Bishop Armstrong on January 14, 1957, Bishop McGucken became Bishop of Sacramento.
Ordained priest for the diocese of Seattle on December 10, 1910, he served as a curate in Spokane and pastor of St. Paul's Church in Yakima, Washington from 1914 until 1929, when he was elected Bishop of Sacramento by Pope Pius XI, receiving his episcopal consecration on March 12 that year from Bishop Edward John O'Dea of Seattle, assisted by Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and Joseph Francis McGrath.
During his 28 years as Bishop of Sacramento, Bishop Armstrong built more churches, schools and religious facilities than had been built in the entire previous history of the Sacramento Diocese. In addition to opening 21 chapels and 31 mission churches, he increased the number of parishes from 52 to 79. During his administration, 21 schools were built and Catholic school enrollment increased from 3,000 to 11,500.
Diagnosed with cancer which caused his death in 1957, aware of his deteriorating health, Pope Pius XII appointed Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Thomas McGucken as Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento on October 26, 1955. Two years later, after the death of Bishop Armstrong on January 14, 1957, Bishop McGucken became Bishop of Sacramento.
The Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, Monsignor Robert John Armstrong was born in San Francisco, California. Moving with his family to the state of Washington, he studied at Gonzaga University and the Grand Séminaire in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Ordained priest for the diocese of Seattle on December 10, 1910, he served as a curate in Spokane and pastor of St. Paul's Church in Yakima, Washington from 1914 until 1929, when he was elected Bishop of Sacramento by Pope Pius XI, receiving his episcopal consecration on March 12 that year from Bishop Edward John O'Dea of Seattle, assisted by Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and Joseph Francis McGrath.
During his 28 years as Bishop of Sacramento, Bishop Armstrong built more churches, schools and religious facilities than had been built in the entire previous history of the Sacramento Diocese. In addition to opening 21 chapels and 31 mission churches, he increased the number of parishes from 52 to 79. During his administration, 21 schools were built and Catholic school enrollment increased from 3,000 to 11,500.
Diagnosed with cancer which caused his death in 1957, aware of his deteriorating health, Pope Pius XII appointed Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Thomas McGucken as Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento on October 26, 1955. Two years later, after the death of Bishop Armstrong on January 14, 1957, Bishop McGucken became Bishop of Sacramento.
Ordained priest for the diocese of Seattle on December 10, 1910, he served as a curate in Spokane and pastor of St. Paul's Church in Yakima, Washington from 1914 until 1929, when he was elected Bishop of Sacramento by Pope Pius XI, receiving his episcopal consecration on March 12 that year from Bishop Edward John O'Dea of Seattle, assisted by Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and Joseph Francis McGrath.
During his 28 years as Bishop of Sacramento, Bishop Armstrong built more churches, schools and religious facilities than had been built in the entire previous history of the Sacramento Diocese. In addition to opening 21 chapels and 31 mission churches, he increased the number of parishes from 52 to 79. During his administration, 21 schools were built and Catholic school enrollment increased from 3,000 to 11,500.
Diagnosed with cancer which caused his death in 1957, aware of his deteriorating health, Pope Pius XII appointed Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Thomas McGucken as Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento on October 26, 1955. Two years later, after the death of Bishop Armstrong on January 14, 1957, Bishop McGucken became Bishop of Sacramento.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
