Joseph Clement Willging

Joseph Willging was born on September 6, 1884, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Henry and Elizabeth (née Hanover) Willging.^[1] He attended St. Mary's School (1891–1898) and Columbia College (1898–1905), both in Dubuque. Willging then went to Baltimore, Maryland, to study at St. Mary's Seminary, earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1908.^[1]

Willging was ordained to the priesthood in Baltimore by Cardinal James Gibbons for the Diocese of Helena on June 20, 1908.^[2][3] He then studied at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for a year. Returning to Montana, Willging was appointed principal of St. Aloysius Institute in Helena, in 1909.^[1] He taught at Carroll College in Helena from 1910 to 1914, returning during that period to Catholic University for one year.^[1] Willging then served as chancellor of the diocese until 1927, when he became pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Butte, Montana.^[1] The Vatican elevated Willging to the rank of papal chamberlain in 1921 and to domestic prelate in 1939. That same year, he was named vicar general of the diocese.^[1][2]

On December 6, 1941, Willging was appointed the first bishop of Pueblo by Pope Pius XII.^[4][5] He received his episcopal consecration at Saint Helena Cathedral in Helena on February 24, 1942, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Archbishop Henry Rohlman and Bishop Joseph Michael Gilmore serving as co-consecrators.^[4] During his 17-year-long tenure, Willging increased the number of parishes from 39 to 60, and the number of priests from 84 to 151.^[6] He also encouraged the establishment of parochial schools and Catholic hospitals.^[6]

Joseph Willging died of a heart attack at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado, on March 3, 1959, at age 74.^[4][2]