James Henry Ambrose Griffiths

James Henry Ambrose Griffiths (July 16, 1903 – February 24, 1964) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1950 to 1964.

Biography

Early life and education

James Griffiths was born on July 16, 1903, in Brooklyn, New York, to James Henry and Helen Agatha (née O'Neil) Griffiths. He received his early education at St. Augustine's Academy in Brooklyn from 1915 to 1919. He then attended St. John's University in Brooklyn, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1923. Griffiths then traveled to Rome to study for the priesthood at the Almo Collegio Capranica and the Pontifical Gregorian University. He received a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian in 1927.

Ordination and ministry Griffiths was ordained a priest in Rome on March 12, 1927, for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica. Following his return to Brooklyn, the diocese assigned Griffiths as curate at St. Joseph's Parish in Babylon, New York. He represented the Vatican at the United Nations (UN) and was its permanent observer at the Economic and Social Council, a UN agency. He was also a member of the New York City Commission on the United Nations and assistant bishop for United Nations Affairs on the administrative board of the National Catholic Welfare Council. During the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965, he served on the United States Bishops' Commission on the Liturgical Apostolate, which studied the introduction of English to parts of the mass and other sacraments.

Death Griffiths died from a heart attack on February 24, 1964, at the rectory of St. Monica's Church in Manhattan at age 60.