Joseph Alphonse McNicholas

Who was Joseph Alphonse McNicholas?

Joseph Alphonse McNicholas was the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield in Illinois.

McNicholas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and there studied at Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1949. On January 31, 1969, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis and Titular Bishop of Scala by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 25 from Cardinal John Carberry, with Archbishop Leo Christopher Byrne and Bishop Charles Herman Helmsing serving as co-consecrators. He served as pastor of the Old Cathedral of St. Louis, and was very active in social welfare and youth programs.

McNicholas was named Bishop of Springfield, Illinois, on July 22, 1975. He was installed by Cardinal John Cody on the following September 3. He became personally acquainted with the diocese by launching a visitation of churches, missions, schools, hospitals, the orphanage, and homes for senior citizens. He hosted the first Midwest Regional Meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to be held in downstate Illinois, and in 1978 appointed the first nun to the position of superintendent of Catholic schools. He also renamed the diocesan newspaper as Time and Eternity.