Claude Marie Dubuis

Who was Claude Marie Dubuis?

Claude Marie Dubuis was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Galveston from 1862 to 1892.

Dubuis was born in Coutouvre, Loire, and ordained to the priesthood at Lyon on June 1, 1844. He came to the United States at the invitation of Bishop Jean-Marie Odin and labored for many years in the missionary fields of Texas. On October 15, 1862, he was appointed Bishop of Galveston by Pope Pius IX. He received his episcopal consecration on the following November 23 from Bishop Odin, with Bishops Armand de Charbonnel and Jean Lyonnet serving as co-consecrators.

Dubuis saw the diocese through the turmoil of the Civil War, after which he established additional parishes, hospitals and schools. In 1881 he retired to his native France due to poor health, taking up residence at Vernaison. He resigned as Bishop of Galveston on December 16, 1892; he was named Titular Archbishop of Arca in Armenia on the same date. He assisted Cardinal Pierre-Hector Coullié in episcopal work until his death at age 78.