Peter Joseph Lavialle

Who was Peter Joseph Lavialle?

Peter Joseph Lavialle was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Louisville from 1865 until his death in 1867.

Lavialle was born in Mauriac, Cantal, and there studied theology under the Sulpician Fathers. In 1842 he accepted an invitation from his relative, Bishop Guy Ignatius Chabrat, to join the Diocese of Louisville, Kentucky. Following his arrival in the United States, Lavialle continued his studies at the diocesan seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1844. He then served as a curate at the cathedral until 1849, when he became professor of theology at St. Thomas Seminary. In 1856 he was named president of St. Mary's College. He was appointed to succeed Antoine Blanc as Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1860, but he refused the honor.

On July 7, 1865, Lavialle was appointed Bishop of Louisville by Pope Pius IX. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 24 from Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, with Bishops Jacques-Maurice De Saint Palais and John McGill serving as co-consecrators. During his short tenure, he conducted diocesan visitations, invited the Dominican Fathers and founded a convent for them, erected four churches in the episcopal see of Louisville alone. He attended the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in October 1866.