Diocese of Camden Bishop Bartholomew Eustace
1938-1956
"I transfer to the clergy and people of Camden my allegiance, my devotion, and my ministry — for by the ring I wear I am wedded to them and by the cross I bear I vow to be a faithful leader, gentle father and true bishop. Floreat Camdenum (May Camden Flourish)."
The appointment of Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace as the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Camden was announced in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 15, 1937.
The son of Irish immigrant parents, Bartholomew and Elizabeth Eustace, Camden's new bishop was born Oct. 1887, on the lower east side of the Borough of Manhattan, N.Y. After 'receiving his elementary education in the New York public schools, he completed high school and two years of College at St. Francis Xavier College, New York City, before studying for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary Dunwoodie, N.Y. He completed his theological studies at the North American College, Rome, and was ordained to the priesthood there on Nov. 1, 1914.
Father. Eustace was ordained a bishop at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, on March 25, 1938. Cardinal Hays officiated and Bishop Kelly of Boise, Idaho, and Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Donahue of New York were assistant consecrators.
Following his arrival in Camden on May 3, 1938, he - was installed as I Bishop of the Camden diocese the following day at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, Iwitl1 Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh of I Newark presiding and Bishop Moses IE. Kiley of Trenton participating. During his installation, Bishop Eustace dedicated the Diocese of Camden to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Shortly after taking up residence in a three-story house on Browning Road, Collingswood, the new bishop had to deal with the problem of the extreme shortage of priests in the diocese. Through his contacts with priests of the New York Archdiocese he was able to obtain some students. As word that the diocese was in dire need of priests and was open to applications, many unattached students in seminaries began to apply. In the 1940's, the Diocese began to solicit vocations in Ireland. Eventually some 50 students from Ireland were ordained for the diocese. At one time the number of seminarians studying at major and minor seminaries here and abroad reached over 400.
Meanwhile, the steady influx of new residents into South Jersey in the parishes; new facilities and new apostolates to meet the ever growing needs under the direction of Bishop Eustace, 31 new parishes were founded and 25 missions were opened. Sixteen of the latter eventually became parishes during the Bishop's tenure and nine later were established as parishes.
To accommodate the expanding educational needs of the diocese Bishop Eustace presided over the opening of three high schools, Bishop Eustace Prep, St. Joseph's, Camden and St. Mary of the Angels, while six existing high schools were expanded. Twenty-two elementary schools also were opened and 14 existing schools were expanded.
Bishop Eustace also oversaw the establishment of such diocesan institutions as Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Camden; St. Mary's Catholic Home, Cherry Hill; Angelus Convalescent Home, Wildwood; Mercy Hospital, Sea Isle City; Mother of the Savior Seminary, Blackwood, under the Salvatorians; and Camp St. Joseph-in-the-Pines. Egg Harbor, for underprivileged boys, under the direction of Franciscan Brother Francis William.
In addition, the diocese witnessed the erection of 50 new churches, 30 rectories and 20 convents.
Bishop Eustace incorporated the Catholic Charities of the diocese on Sept. 27, 1940, with Father (later Monsignor) Alfred W. Jess, pastor of St. Teresa's, Runnemede, as its first director. On August 16, 1953, he blessed the new St. Mary's Home for the sick and elderly in Cherry Hill.
Although stricken with diabetes in Jan. 1941, Bishop Eustace had carried on his work until Aug. 1950, when he suffered the first of three heart attacks while on retreat with the Jesuits of Wernersville, Pa. He was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where he remained for several weeks.
He returned home to a newly purchased Bishop's Residence on Kings Highway, Haddonfield. Following his recovery, he returned to an almost full schedule, which soon proved too much for him and resulted in a second serious heart attack on Oct. 26, 1951.
He suffered a third heart attack on Feb. 22, 1955. On his recovery, he again spent time in his office each day but finally -had to desist following two surgical operations on Feb. 23 and Sept. 11 of 1956.
Although confined to his room and bed, the Bishop continued to conduct diocesan business. Around the first of December he was completely confined to ...bed. He died at his Haddonfield residence in the early morning of Tuesday, Dec. 11, 1956, at age 69.
The funeral Mass was offered in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Dec. 15, by Cardinal McIntyre, with Archbishop (later Cardinal) John F. O'Hara giving the eulogy. Interment followed in Calvary C
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* Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace