Joseph A. Burke

Joseph Burke was born in Buffalo, New York, to Joseph S. and Amelia (née Howard) Burke.[1] The son of a boilermaker, he wanted to enter the priesthood since the age of six.[2] He attended Canisius High School and Canisius College, both in his native city.[3] He made his theological studies at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.[3]

Returning to Buffalo, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Charles H. Colton on August 3, 1912.[4] During World War I, he served as an Army chaplain with the 91st Division on the Belgian front.[1] He served as a curate and pastor in the Diocese of Buffalo, and as a teacher at Mount Carmel Guild and at D'Youville College.[3]

On April 20, 1943, Burke was appointed titular bishop of Vita and the first auxiliary bishop of Buffalo by Pope Pius XII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 29 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Archbishop Thomas Walsh and Bishop Edmund Gibbons serving as co-consecrators.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto, "Let Your Will Be Done".[5] Following the death of Bishop John A. Duffy in September 1944, he served as apostolic administrator of the diocese until the appointment of Bishop John Francis O'Hara in March 1945.[1]

When O'Hara was later promoted to Archbishop of Philadelphia, Burke was named to succeed him as the ninth Bishop of Buffalo on February 9, 1952.[4] He was the first native son of the diocese to become its bishop.[5] His installation took place on the following April 30.[2] During his 10-year-long administration, he gave his support to various groups, including the Holy Name Society, missions, the Pre-Cana program, Puerto Rican migrants, and displaced persons.[5] He also continued the expansion and construction of educational institutions, including St. John Vianney Seminary (later renamed Christ the King Seminary) in East Aurora.[5] He was made an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne in 1956, and a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1960.[1]

At age 76, Burke died in Rome during the first week of the Second Vatican Council.[5] His death was the first among the bishops attending the Council.[1] He is buried in the chapel of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora.[5]