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His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph Lawson E. Howze
Bishop emeritus of Biloxi
Archdiocese Mobile
Diocese Biloxi
Appointed March 8, 1977
Enthroned June 6, 1977
Reign ended May 15, 2001
Predecessor First Bishop
Successor Thomas John Rodi
Orders
Ordination May 7, 1959
Consecration January 28, 1973
by Luigi Raimondi, Harold Robert Perry, and Joseph Bernard Brunini
Personal details
Born (1923-08-30)August 30, 1923
Daphne, Alabama, U.S.
Died January 9, 2019(2019-01-09) (aged 95)
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, U.S.
Previous post Auxiliary Bishop of Natchez-Jackson
Motto Unity of God’s people
Styles of
Joseph Lawson E. Howze
Mitre (plain).svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

Joseph Lawson Edward Howze (born Lawson Edward Howze, August 30, 1923 – January 9, 2019) was an African-American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Biloxi from 1977 to 2001, and was the first openly Black Catholic bishop of a US diocese.

Early life

Howze was born in Daphne, Alabama. He was the oldest of four children born to Albert Otis Howze Sr. and Helen Lawson Howze. His mother died when he was five. He had six siblings in total. He grew up with neighbors who were Catholic and attributed his Catholicism to that influence. He attended kindergarten at Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Mobile. He was later transferred to the segregated public schools of Mobile, graduating from Mobile County Secondary School in 1944. Howze originally aspired to become a doctor and studied chemistry, biology, and physics. He graduated from Alabama State Branch Junior College in 1946. In 1948 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alabama State University.

Howze converted to Catholicism in 1948, taking the name baptismal name of Joseph. He later entered the seminary for the Josephites, studying at Epiphany Apostolic College in upstate New York. He then taught science in the public school system and was later hired to teach at St. Monica School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1952.

Catholic priesthood

After expressing a renewed interest in the priesthood, Howze was accepted to study for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University in New York (receiving his Doctor of Divinity in 1959), and was ordained for the Diocese of Raleigh on May 7, 1959. He then served as a pastor in Asheville.

On November 8, 1972 Howze was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Natchez-Jackson, Mississippi, and Titular Bishop of Maxita by Pope Paul VI. He was consecrated to the episcopate on January 28, 1973 by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, with Bishops Harold Robert Perry, S.V.D., and Joseph Bernard Brunini serving as co-consecrators.

When the Diocese of Biloxi was created in 1977, Howze was appointed its first bishop. He was the first openly Black bishop to head a diocese in the United States.

He retired June 6, 2001 and died January 9, 2019 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi at the age of 95.

See also

  • Catholic Church hierarchy
  • Catholic Church in the United States
  • Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
  • List of Catholic bishops of the United States
  • Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
First Bishop
Bishop of Biloxi
1977–2001
Succeeded by
Thomas John Rodi
Preceded by
-
Auxiliary Bishop of Natchez-Jackson
1973–1977
Succeeded by
-
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