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Our Dedication To:
B
ishop Leo T. Maher
The Most Reverend Leo Thomas Maher has
been the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
San Diego for twenty one years. The Bishop was
born in Union, Iowa in 1916. He
is
the fifth of nine
children from a religious family.
Bishop Maher moved to California
when he was twelve years old.
He graduated from St. Joseph's
Minor Seminary in Mountain
View,
California in 1937. In 1943
he graduated from St. Patrick's
Major Seminary in Menlo Park.
The Bishop was 1Jrdained for the
Archdiocese of San Francisco by
Archbishop John Joseph Mitty in
1943.
He has recognized the
growing
and changing
needs of San Diego. San Diego is an ever-increas–
ingly populated city. Bishop Maher has helped
parishes grow as the diocese has grown. He has
opened nineteen parishes since
1970. When the bishop arrived in
San Diego it had been five years
since the diocese had opened a
parish.
The San Diego Diocese spon–
sored the St. Vincent de Paul/
Joan Kroc Center, a center opened
to serve the poor and homeless.
Bishop Maher has done his best to
help alleviate many problems of
the poor, homeless, and elderly.
Since 1970 Bishop Maher has
opened four high-rise apartment
communities
for
senior citizens.
Bishop Leo T, Maher served as
a parish priest in San Francisco
until December 28, 1946 when he
was named secretary to the arch–
bishop in 1966. On April 6, 1962
Bishop Maher was installed as the
founding bishop of the Diocese of
Santa Rosa.
While Bishop Maher was the
bishop of Santa Rosa he was part
of the Vatican Pastoral Council
(Vatican II.) He was a leader of
Bishop Leo Thomas
Maher, third bishop of
the
San
Diego Diocese.
Bishop Leo T. Maher provides
dynamic moral leadership for all
to follow. Bishop Maher takes vo–
cal and occasionally controversial
stands on topics. Some of these
topics have included birth control,
abortion, homosexuality, school–
based health clinics, and drug
various liturgical and philosophi-
cal changes that came from the sessions of the
council. The Vatican II concluded in 1966.
Bishop Leo Thomas Maher became the bishop
of San Diego in 1969. The bishop has made many
contributions to the local church. Bishop Maher
has played a leading role in making USD one of
the West's leading centers of higher education.
Bishop Maher aqjusts the robes of the
Santa
Rosa
boys'choir, his former diocese, adisplay ofhis care
and concern for the future generation.
6 BISHOP MAHER
abuse.
Bishop Maher has been a great
influence through the years. His presence will be
missed at the University of San Diego and in the
surrounding community. Bishop Maher has been
an inspiration to many, especially to the students
whom he touched through the University. USD
appreciates Bishop Maher's time and dedication
to our development as a community.
The Bishop is always a focal point for the media and the community of
San
Diego, as
seen here in the early ?O's.
It is a tradition for Bishop Maher to speak at USD
graduation ceremonies.