Joseph Lennox Federal


Joseph Lennox Federal was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Roman Catholic [Diocese of Salt Lake City|Diocese of Salt Lake City] in Utah from 1960 to 1980. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop and coadjutor bishop of the same diocese from 1951 to 1960.

Early life

Joseph Federal was born on January 13, 1910 in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Charles and Margaret Federal. In preparation for the priesthood, Federal studied at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, the University of Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Priesthood

Federal was ordained a priest in Rome for the Diocese of Raleigh by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica on December 8, 1934. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Federal as a curate at St. Peter's Parish in Greenville, North Carolina. In 1937, he was named the first pastor of St. Margaret's Parish in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Federal was appointed rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, and became a papal chamberlain in 1942.

Auxiliary Bishop, Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Salt Lake

On February 5, 1951, Federal was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and titular bishop of Appiaria by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 11, 1951, from Cardinal Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Eugene J. McGuinness and Vincent Waters serving as co-consecrators.
Federal was named coadjutor bishop of Salt Lake City on May 1, 1958, by Pope John XXIII. He automatically succeeded Duane Hunt as the sixth bishop upon the latter's death on March 31, 1960.
Federal attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965. During Federal's tenure, crews replaced the slate roof of the Cathedral of the Madeleine with copper along with some sandstone blocks and gargoyles. In 1970, he ordered the tolling of the cathedral bells as the hearse carrying the body of LDS President David O. McKay passed by.

Retirement and legacy

On April 22, 1980, Pope John Paul II accepted Federal's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake. Joseph Federal died in Salt Lake City on August 31, 2000, at age 90.