Carroll, Francis P., 1890-1967

• Bishop Francis Patrick Carroll

He was born on July 7, 1890 in Toronto where he also studied at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. He attended St. Augustine’s Seminary in 1913 and was ordained at the Seminary on June 2, 1917. He remained at St. Augustine’s for twelve years as professor of Scripture and then went to Jerusalem for two years to study at the Dominican Biblical School. After his return to St. Augustine’s, he was appointed Rector of the Seminary.

He took possession of the Calgary See on March 25, 1935. During this time, Western Canada had taken a hard hit from the Depression. Bishop Carroll continued to develop the Diocesan plan which began with Bishop Monahan—this serviced parish projects and consolidated some parochial debt.

After he became Bishop, there was an increase in native priests due to his encouragement as well as the growth of Catholic communities. During the latter part of his episcopate, more than half his clergy members were native priests.
Appointed fourth Bishop of Calgary in 1936 - a serious Biblical scholar, gifted speaker and effective administrator. In 1957 he was appointed as Assistant to the Pontifical Throne by Pope Pius XII. Bishop Carroll attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council until ill health forced his return home. Bishop Joseph L. Wilhelm was appointed Vicar General and auxiliary in 1963 until January 1965 when he left Calgary to become Archbishop of Kingston.

Carroll resigned as bishop on Dec 28, 1966, was appointed Apostolic Administrator, but he died on February 25, 1967.
Source: From the Buffalo to the Cross, pp. 133-135

Born in Toronto, attended St. Michael's College, University of Toronto and St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto where he was later Rector. He came to Calgary on Mar 25, 1935. In 1951-1952 he spent 18 months in a tuberculosis sanatorium in upper New York state. He died in Calgary.

Rector of St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto; Vicar Capitular (Administrator) of the Archdiocese of Toronto from May 1934 until Archbishop McGuigan was appointed; Bishop of Calgary Feb 19, 1935 (consecrated)

Revised 2021-04-01

• Engels

From the Buffalo to the Cross: a History of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, by M.B. Venini Byrne (Calgary, AB: Calgary Archives and Historical Publishers, 1973).
Winds of Change: a History of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary since 1968 by Norman Knowles (Calgary, AB: Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary; St. Mary's College, 2004).