John Quinn Weitzel
John Quinn Weitzel M.M. was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago in American Samoa.
Biography
Early life
Weitzel was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 10, 1928. Weitzel attended St. Francis Xavier School in LaGrange and St. Luke School in River Forest during his early education. During his secondary years, he went to Fenwick High School, but transferred during his junior year to attend Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, a preparatory school for those considering priesthood. He then studied at Maryknoll Venard Apostolic College and Maryknoll Seminary, graduating with a bachelor's in philosophy and a master's in religious education from the latter.He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America on June 11, 1955. Afterwards, he was assigned to promotional and fundraising work in the Chicago area, before returning to New York in 1967 to work as Maryknoll Assistant Director of Development. He was granted an overseas mission in Falealupo in Western Samoa in 1978.
Bishop of Samoa-Pago Pago
Pope John Paul II appointed Weitzel as the first bishop of the newly-erected diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago on June 9, 1986. He was consecrated on October 29, 1986 by Pio Taofinu'u, with Joseph Ferrario and Patrick Vincent Hurley as co-consecrators.Weitzel's letter of resignation as bishop of Samoa-Pago Pago was accepted by Pope Francis on Friday, May 31, 2013.