Former Auxiliary for the Diocese of Fall River and Bishop of the Titular See of Forma, Monsignor James Joseph Gerrard was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to William Gerrard and Elizabeth Livesey, and educated at Holy Family High School in New Bedford and St. Laurent College in Montreal, entered St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York. Ordained priest on May 26, 1923 for the Diocese of Fall River by Bishop Daniel F. Feehan, he was assigned to Sacred Heart parish, Oak Bluffs, for his first summer as a priest, while in October of that year, he went to St. Patrick's parish.
Named chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the Apostolic Administrator, Msgr. James E. Cassidy, on June I, 1932, when Cassidy succeeded to the diocese upon the death of Bishop Feehan, Gerrard continued as chancellor and episcopal secretary. Member of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal from 1930 to 1941, Gerrard became rector of the cathedral in Fall River on April 20, 1939, where he remained until 1956. Episcopal Representative for Religious from 1941 to 1945, he was appointed vicar general by Bishop Connolly in 1951, remaining in such position under Bishops Connolly and Bishop Cronin until February 12, 1976.
Named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII on September 6, 1952, Pope John XXIII elected him auxiliary for the said see, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Forma on March 19, 1959 from Bishop James Connolly, assisted by Bishops Russell McVinney and Jeremiah Minihann. Retiring from office on on January 12, 1976, Bishop Gerrard died at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, on June 3, 1991, six days short of his 94th birthday. Laid out in state in the chapel of the said residence, his body was transferred to the cathedral of Fall River, where interment took place inside its bishopric crypt following the celebration of a Requiem Mass presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston on June 7.
Named chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the Apostolic Administrator, Msgr. James E. Cassidy, on June I, 1932, when Cassidy succeeded to the diocese upon the death of Bishop Feehan, Gerrard continued as chancellor and episcopal secretary. Member of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal from 1930 to 1941, Gerrard became rector of the cathedral in Fall River on April 20, 1939, where he remained until 1956. Episcopal Representative for Religious from 1941 to 1945, he was appointed vicar general by Bishop Connolly in 1951, remaining in such position under Bishops Connolly and Bishop Cronin until February 12, 1976.
Named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII on September 6, 1952, Pope John XXIII elected him auxiliary for the said see, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Forma on March 19, 1959 from Bishop James Connolly, assisted by Bishops Russell McVinney and Jeremiah Minihann. Retiring from office on on January 12, 1976, Bishop Gerrard died at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, on June 3, 1991, six days short of his 94th birthday. Laid out in state in the chapel of the said residence, his body was transferred to the cathedral of Fall River, where interment took place inside its bishopric crypt following the celebration of a Requiem Mass presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston on June 7.
Former Auxiliary for the Diocese of Fall River and Bishop of the Titular See of Forma, Monsignor James Joseph Gerrard was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to William Gerrard and Elizabeth Livesey, and educated at Holy Family High School in New Bedford and St. Laurent College in Montreal, entered St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York. Ordained priest on May 26, 1923 for the Diocese of Fall River by Bishop Daniel F. Feehan, he was assigned to Sacred Heart parish, Oak Bluffs, for his first summer as a priest, while in October of that year, he went to St. Patrick's parish.
Named chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the Apostolic Administrator, Msgr. James E. Cassidy, on June I, 1932, when Cassidy succeeded to the diocese upon the death of Bishop Feehan, Gerrard continued as chancellor and episcopal secretary. Member of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal from 1930 to 1941, Gerrard became rector of the cathedral in Fall River on April 20, 1939, where he remained until 1956. Episcopal Representative for Religious from 1941 to 1945, he was appointed vicar general by Bishop Connolly in 1951, remaining in such position under Bishops Connolly and Bishop Cronin until February 12, 1976.
Named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII on September 6, 1952, Pope John XXIII elected him auxiliary for the said see, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Forma on March 19, 1959 from Bishop James Connolly, assisted by Bishops Russell McVinney and Jeremiah Minihann. Retiring from office on on January 12, 1976, Bishop Gerrard died at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, on June 3, 1991, six days short of his 94th birthday. Laid out in state in the chapel of the said residence, his body was transferred to the cathedral of Fall River, where interment took place inside its bishopric crypt following the celebration of a Requiem Mass presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston on June 7.
Named chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the Apostolic Administrator, Msgr. James E. Cassidy, on June I, 1932, when Cassidy succeeded to the diocese upon the death of Bishop Feehan, Gerrard continued as chancellor and episcopal secretary. Member of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal from 1930 to 1941, Gerrard became rector of the cathedral in Fall River on April 20, 1939, where he remained until 1956. Episcopal Representative for Religious from 1941 to 1945, he was appointed vicar general by Bishop Connolly in 1951, remaining in such position under Bishops Connolly and Bishop Cronin until February 12, 1976.
Named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII on September 6, 1952, Pope John XXIII elected him auxiliary for the said see, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Forma on March 19, 1959 from Bishop James Connolly, assisted by Bishops Russell McVinney and Jeremiah Minihann. Retiring from office on on January 12, 1976, Bishop Gerrard died at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, on June 3, 1991, six days short of his 94th birthday. Laid out in state in the chapel of the said residence, his body was transferred to the cathedral of Fall River, where interment took place inside its bishopric crypt following the celebration of a Requiem Mass presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop of Boston on June 7.
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