Diocese of Camden Archbishop Celestine Damiano
1960-1967
"If my pastroal ministry accomplishes nothing more than fulfill the programs and desires of my predecessors, especially in the building of churches, institutions, and fostering vocations, then my humble name will be blessed before God and before souls."
Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate in the United States, announced Pope John XXIII’s appointment of Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano as the third Bishop of Camden Feb. 10, 1960, in Washington, D.C.
A priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, Celestine Joseph Damiano had been Apostolic Delegate in South Africa for seven years at the time of his appointment as Camden's third Ordinary. Born in Dunkirk, N.Y. on Nov. 1, 1911, he was the eldest of six children of Italian immigrant parents, Vito and Stella Damiano. He attended public school in Dunkirk and after two years at St. Michael's College, Toronto, Canada, studied philosophy and theology at the Propaganda Fide College in Rome, Italy, and was ordained in Rome Dec. 21, 1935. Msgr. Damiano was appointed Titular Archbishop of Nicopolis in Epiro and Apostolic Delegate in South Africa in December 1952. He was ordained a bishop at the Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop' Joseph A. Burke of Buffalo. Archbishop Damiano formally took possession of the Camden Diocese .at his installation in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, on May 3, 1960, at which Archbishop Thomas A. Boland of Newark officiated. On Sept. 9, 1960, Archbishop Damiano launched a drive to raise $5 million for the construction and
On September 9 1960, Archbishop Damiano launched a drive to raise $5 million for the construction and improvement of Catholic secondary schools in the diocese. The first building financed by the project was the new Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill f9r which ground was broken on Oct. 15, 1961. Meanwhile, two other projects already in progress were brought to fruition, the new St. James High School, Carney's Point, and an addition to Gloucester Catholic High School. In the shore area, the new Holy Spirit High School was built in Absecon. Meanwhile, the former Camden Catholic High School site at the Cathedral complex in Camden was completely refurbished and opened as the Cathedral Academy for Girls in September, 1965, with Father (later Monsignor) Eugene F. Pack as principal. The Archbishop broke ground for the new Pope Paul VI High School in Haddon Township during the winter of 1965. At the elementary level, the parishes built 17 new elementary schools during the Archbishop's tenure and elementary enrollment increased by more than 3,000. Other elementary schools were modernized and expanded. In June 1965, a diocesan school board was established with seven lay members. The expansion of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was continued under Archbishop Damiano with the extension of the CCD program to include increased teacher training, workshops, lectures, summer sessions, special education classes and diocesan and regional conferences. Archbishop Damiano was a member of the Preparatory Commission on Missions for the Second Vatican Council and attended all four sessions of the Council. While in Rome he conducted diocesan business through correspondence. When the Council ended, a Jubilee year for prayer and pilgrimage opened in January 1966. The Camden diocese's Brazil mission project was inaugurated by Archbishop Damiano in 'December, 1961, when two priest of the Camden diocese, Father (later Monsignor Edward J. Kennedy and Father (later Monsignor) Felix M. O'Neill, the first of nearly two dozen priests from the diocese that were to see service there, left to work in the Jatai diocese of Brazil. On April 25, 1964, Archbishop Damiano announced the establishment of the diocesan House of Charity and named Msgr. Joseph B. McIntyre, pastor of Christ the King parish, Haddonfield, and Father (later Monsignor and then Auxiliary Bishop) James L. Schad, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer parish, Westville Grove, to direct its fundraising activities. The first annual campaign realized $774,000. On Oct. 26, 1966, it was announced that Pope Paul VI had appointed Msgr. James L Schad, 49, as titular Bishop of and Auxiliary to Archbishop Damiano. Archbishop Damiano ordained him a bishop Dec. 8, 1966 at St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral, Camden.
Archbishop Damiano, 55, died as a result of a blood clot on October 2, 1967, while recuperating from gall bladder surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The Archbishop's funeral Mass was concelebrated with Archbishop Boland as principal celebrant at St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral on Oct. 7, 1967. Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, presided at the Mass and Auxiliary Bishop Benincasa delivered the eulogy. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
* Bishop Joseph Galante
* Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
* Bishop James T. McHugh
* Bishop George H. Guilfoyle
* Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano
* Bishop Justin J. McCarthy
* Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace