Edmond John Fitzmaurice

Edmond John Fitzmaurice (June 24, 1881 – July 26, 1962) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington in Delaware from 1925 to 1960.

Biography Early life and education Edmond Fitzmaurice was born on June 24, 1881, in Leitrim West, County Kerry in Ireland to William and Johanna (née Costello) Fitzmaurice. His uncle, John Edmund Fitzmaurice, became bishop of the Diocese of Erie in Pennsylvania.

Fitzmaurice studied at St. Brendan's College in Killarney, Ireland, and at the College of Sint-Truiden in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. After his ordination, Fitzmaurice immigrated to the United States in 1904, becoming a curate at Annunciation Parish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was appointed chancellor of the archdiocese, serving in this role until 1920.

Bishop of Wilmington On July 24, 1925, Fitzmaurice was appointed the fourth bishop of Wilmington by Pope Pius XI. To accommodate these numbers, he founded 17 new parishes, 8 missions, and 19 elementary and 9 secondary schools.

In 1956, Pope Pius XII appointed Reverend Hubert James Cartwright as coadjutor bishop of Wilmington to assist Fitzmaurice. When Cartwright died in 1958, Pope Pius appointed Michael William Hyle as the new coadjutor bishop.

Retirement and legacy Pope John XXIII accepted Fitzmaurice's resignation as bishop of Wilmington on March 2, 1960,