BILOXI, Miss. — Bishop Joseph Lawson Howze, the founding bishop
of the Diocese of Biloxi and the first black bishop in the 20th century to head
a U.S. diocese, died Jan. 9. He was 95.
A funeral Mass is to be celebrated Jan. 16 at Nativity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi with burial to follow in the new Bishops'
Prayer Garden behind the cathedral.
"While we are saddened by the death of Bishop Joseph Lawson
Howze, we rejoice in his life," said Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III of
Biloxi. "His was a life well lived in faithful service to almighty God and
to the people of Mississippi, both as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of
Natchez-Jackson and later as first bishop of Biloxi from 1977 to 2001."
Noting that establishing a new diocese was difficult work, Bishop
Kihneman said Bishop Howze was "very proud of what he, with the help of
devoted clergy, religious and laity, accomplished during his tenure" and
was "forever grateful to the people of the diocese for their unfailing
generosity of time, talent and treasure."
Despite deteriorating health in recent years, Bishop Howze
remained interested in events in the diocese, Bishop Kihneman said.
"He loved the Diocese of Biloxi and prayed unceasingly for
its continued success. He had a genuine concern for the salvation of
souls," he added.
Joseph Lawson Howze was born in Daphne, Alabama, Aug. 30, 1923,
to Albert Otis Howze Sr. and Helen (Lawson) Howze. He began his school years at
Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Mobile, Alabama, but his first year of school
was interrupted in 1928 by the death of his mother, just six days after she
bore her fourth child. The eldest, then age 5, young Lawson (Joseph is his
baptismal name) was shuttled back and forth between the homes of his
grandparents, aunts and father, who later remarried and fathered three more
children.
After graduating as valedictorian of his 1944 high school class,
a young Lawson Howze graduated with honors and as president of the senior class
from Alabama State College. He had intended to study medicine, but instead
earned a bachelor's degree in science and education and began teaching biology
and chemistry at Central High School in Mobile.
Bishop Howze first had been a Baptist, then a Methodist, serving
as a choir director and church organist and pianist. But while teaching at
Central High School he was drawn to the Catholic faith through the example of
Marion Carroll Jr., one of seven Catholic students in his biology class. Soon
he began instruction in the Catholic faith under the direction of Josephite
Father Benjamin Horton.
At age 25 on Dec. 4, 1948, he was baptized a Catholic at Most
Pure Heart of Mary Church in Mobile. An interest in the priesthood soon
developed. After inquiring about becoming a priest with Bishop Vincent S.
Waters of Raleigh, N.C., he later was adopted as a student for the diocese and
began studies at the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo.
The young Howze became the first black priest ordained in North
Carolina, when he was welcomed to the priesthood in 1959 in the Diocese of
Raleigh. He subsequently celebrated his first Mass at the parish in Mobile
where he was baptized. He served as pastor of several parishes in North
Carolina during his 13 years of ministry there.
In November 1972, St. Paul VI appoint Father Howze as auxiliary
bishop of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Miss. His episcopal ordination
followed on Jan. 28, 1973, in Jackson.
Within a year, Bishop Howze accepted the presidency of the
National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus.
On March 8, 1977, Bishop Howze was appointed as the first bishop
of the newly established Diocese of Biloxi.
During his leadership of the Biloxi Diocese, Bishop Howze served
on several U.S. bishops' committees focusing on justice, peace, interreligious
and ecumenical affairs, and black Catholic ministry.
He retired May 15, 2001, after serving the Biloxi Diocese for 24
years.
Dickson is editor of Gulf Pine Catholic, newspaper of the
Diocese of Biloxi.