Charles Hubert Le Blond

Charles Hubert Le Blond (November 21, 1883 – December 30, 1958) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of St. Joseph in Missouri from 1933 to 1956.

Biography

Early life Charles Le Blond was born on November 21, 1883, in Celina, Ohio. He was one of three children of Charles McGinley and Anne Marie (née Brennan) Le Blond. Charles McGinley was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1886 to 1890. Charles Le Blond was a grandson of U.S. Representative Francis Le Blond and a cousin of Judge Frank Le Blond Kloeb.

When Charles Le Blond was age five, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. John's Cathedral. He then attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland for six years, graduating in 1903.

Priesthood Le Blond was ordained a priest by Bishop John Patrick Farrelly for the Diocese of Cleveland on June 29, 1909 in Cleveland. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Le Blond as a curate at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Cleveland, where he remained for two years. He also represented the National Catholic Welfare Council at the international conferences on social work in Paris, France (1928) and in Frankfurt, Germany (1932). During his tenure as bishop, the number of priests in the diocese increased by 30%, and the Catholic population of the diocese increased by more than 3,000.

Retirement and legacy After governing the diocese for twenty-three years, Le Blond resigned as bishop of St. Joseph on August 24, 1956. Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph is named in his honor.