Early life Alden John Bell was born in
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He completed his
undergraduate education at
Saint Patrick's Seminary While at the seminary in 1927, Bell was one of three pastoral interns who were assigned to
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in
Altadena, California.
Priesthood He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the
Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego on May 14, 1932. In 1935, Bell persuaded the
Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus to teach at the
Sacred Heart Mission. with Bishops
Joseph Thomas McGucken and
Timothy Manning serving as co-consecrators. On November 10, 1956, Bell
blessed La Salle High School two months after it opened. On March 9, 1957, Bell consecrated the
high altar at
St. Kevin's Church, Los Angeles. On October 26, 1957, Bell presided over the
gymnasium dedication at
Junípero Serra High School in
Gardena, California.
Bishop of Sacramento On March 30, 1962, Bell was appointed the sixth Bishop of Sacramento by
Pope John XXIII. On September 17, 1963, Bell dedicated
Jesuit High School, Sacramento, to the
Jesuit North American Martyrs. In May 1982, he returned to this school to dedicate its library in memory of the Rev. Joseph J. King,
S.J. On April 2, 1965, Bell dedicated the fourth rebuilding of St. Joseph Church in
Redding, California. The original church had been constructed near railroad tracks and later moved to the site of the second church. Both the second and third St. Joseph's churches had burnt down in fires. On June 7, 1965, Bell dedicated Holy Family Parish's new church, which replaced the Camp Kohler
chapel that had been purchased from the
Army. In 1969, as the
ordinary, Bell
approved within the
see of Sacramento
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church as a "national shrine". This was accomplished after the construction of its new church, because at that time it had become the largest "Spanish speaking" Mexican parish. In 1973, Bell dedicated
St. Joseph Parish's new
church in
Elk Grove, California. The old church had been sold in December 1972. On May 6, 1974, Bell was the principal consecrator of Bishop
John Stephen Cummins. Cummins had been appointed as the diocesan auxiliary bishop on February 26, 1974. In 1977, Bell supervised the purchase and installation of a Schlicker organ from
Buffalo, New York, for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. While it had nine ranks of pipes, the organ proved to be inadequate for the music of the cathedral's
liturgy. In May 1977, Bell gave $20,000, which had been a
World War II relief fund for
Slovaks, to the
Byzantine Eparch of Parma,
Emil Mihalik. The eparch said the money would be used to build a church in Sacramento.
Ecumenical Councils From 1962 to 1965, Bell attended all four sessions of the
Second Vatican Council. He was responsible for implementing the reforms that resulted from the Council in the diocese. Many parishes began parish councils at this time, and he encouraged the emergence of lay ministry in the diocese. At the same time, he needed to respond to the needs of a growing diocese.
Solano County was added to the diocese. He focused on the development of high schools throughout the diocese. He initiated a fund drive to ease costs, build new schools, expand religious education programs, and build a home for the aged. The 17 years he spent as bishop of the diocese, which grew to nearly 250,000 members during his tenure, He was stabbed twice before his secretary, Jean Tamaki, Alden Bell died of
esophageal cancer on August 28, 1982, aged 78. ==Quotes==