Joseph Henry Conroy
Joseph Henry Conroy was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York State from 1921 until his death in 1939. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop for the same diocese from 1912 to 1921.
Biography
Early life
Joseph Conroy was born on November 8, 1858, in Watertown, New York. He completed his preparatory studies for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, and at St. Michael's College in Toronto, Ontario. Returning to New York, he studied theology at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy.Priesthood
Conroy was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan at St. Joseph's for the Diocese of Ogdensburg on June 11, 1881. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Conroy as an assistant pastor at the mission church at Churubusco, New York. He was later appointed pastor of a parish in Rouses Point, New York. In 1883, Bishop Edgar Wadhams named Conroy as rector of St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg, New York.Bishop Henry Gabriels appointed Conroy as vicar general of the diocese in 1901. The Vatican in 1905 elevated him to the rank of domestic prelate.Auxiliary Bishop of Ogdensburg
On March 11, 1912, Conroy was appointed auxiliary bishop of Ogdensburg and titular bishop of Arindela by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration on May 1, 1912, from Cardinal John Farley, with Gabriels and Bishop Charles H. Colton serving as co-consecrators, at St. Mary's Cathedral.Bishop of Ogdensburg
Following the death of Gabriels in April 1921, Conroy was named the third bishop of Ogdensburg by Pope Benedict XV on November 21, 1921. He was installed by Cardinal Patrick Hayes on January 18, 1922. In 1935, Gabriels allowed Reverend Cyril Stevens to become president of Ticonderoga National Bank in Ticonderoga, New York, despite canon law forbidding a priest to engage in business.Joseph Conroy died on March 20, 1939, at age 80.