Henry Gabriels
Henry Gabriels was a Belgian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York State from 1892 until his death in 1921.
Biography
Early life
Henry Gabriels was born on October 6, 1838, at Wannegem-Lede, East Flanders in Belgium. He studied classics at St. Mary's College in Oudenaarde, Belgium and philosophy at the St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Ghent, Belgium. In 1858, having decided to enter the priesthood, he enrolled in St. Nicholas Seminary in Ghent, where he studied theology for two years. In late 1860, Gabriels entered the University of Leuven (1834–1968)|University of Leuven] in Leuven, Belgium.Priesthood
Gabriels was ordained to the priesthood in Ghent by Bishop Louis-Joseph Delebecque on September 21, 1861. He received a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1862 and a Licentiate in Theology in 1864. That same year, Archbishop John McCloskey of New York was attempting to establish a provincial seminary in New York, which would train priests for multiple dioceses in the Northeastern United States. While visiting in Ghent, he asked Delebecque to suggest some priests who might want to work at the new St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, New York. Delebecque proposed four new priests, including Gabriels. When McCloskey offered him a faculty chair at St. Joseph's, Gabriels eagerly agreed.Gabriels arrived in New York in October 1864. He served as professor of dogma at St. Joseph's for seven years. He was able to visit his family in Belgium in 1867. In 1868, Gabriels learned about a small community of German and Irish Catholics near Sand Lake, New York, who did not have a church or a priest. Since Gabriels spoke some German, he started spending time there, celebrating mass in a private residence while organizing a new parish.
By 1870, Gabriels was also teaching church history at St. Joseph's. In July 1871, McCloskey appointed Gabriels as president of St. Joseph's, a position he would hold until 1892.In 1882, he received an honorary Doctor of Theology degree from the University of Leuven.
When the Fourth Provincial Council of New York was held in New York City in 1883, Gabriels served as secretary. For the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland in 1884, Gabriels was named as a general secretary.
Bishop of Ogdensburg
On December 20, 1891, Gabriels was appointed as the second bishop of Ogdensburg by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on May 5, 1892, from Archbishop Michael Corrigan, with Bishops Francis McNeirny and Patrick Anthony Ludden serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the [Immaculate Conception (Albany, New York)|Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception] in Albany, New York. He was installed at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg by Bishop Bernard McQuaid on 11 May 1892. In 1894, the Gabriels Sanitarium for tuberculosis patients opened in a hamlet that became known as Gabriels, New York. Charles George Hebermann, editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia, gave this description of Gabriels:Conscientious in the discharge of his duties, ever ready to go where duty called, affable to all, both rich and poor, zealous for the interests of the Church, he was soon known in every part of the diocese, and where he was known, he was loved and respected.In August 1906, Gabriels met in Rome with Pope Pius X, delivering a personal message from U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and a Peter's Pence contribution of $1,350. Gabriels wrote the "Diocese of Ogdensburg" article for the Catholic Encyclopedia. He was an officer of the Order of Leopold. During his 29 years as bishop, he established several churches and schools.