Early life John Russell was born on December 1, 1897, in
Baltimore,
Maryland, to John and Mary (née Joyce) Russell. John Russell attended
Calvert Hall College High School and
Loyola High School, both in
Towson, Maryland. From 1912 to 1917, he studied at
St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland. Russell earned his
Master of Arts degree from
St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore in 1919, and a
Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the
Pontifical Urbaniana University in
Rome in 1923. Russell was a schoolmate of the seminarian
Francis J. Parater, now a
servant of god.
Priesthood John Russell was
ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Bishop
William Russell, his relative, for the
Archdiocese of Baltimore on July 8, 1923. Following his return to Baltimore, John Russell served as a
curate at St. Martin Parish in Baltimore from 1923 to 1937. He also served as diocesan director of Catholic Big Brothers and of the Holy Name Societies from 1927 to 1946). From 1929 to 1946, he was diocesan director of the
Catholic Evidence Guild. Russell served as
pastor of St. Ursula Parish in Baltimore from 1937 to 1946, and was named a
domestic prelate by the Vatican in 1945. Russell then served as pastor of
St. Patrick Parish in Washington, D.C. from 1946 to 1948 and as diocesan director of
Catholic Charities (1946–1950). From 1948 to 1950, he was pastor of the Church of the Nativity.
Bishop of Charleston On January 28, 1950, Russell was appointed bishop of Charleston by
Pope Pius XII. He received his
episcopal consecration at St.
Matthew's Cathedral in Washington D.C. on March 14, 1950, from Archbishop
Amleto Cicognani, with Archbishop
Patrick O'Boyle and Bishop
John Michael McNamara serving as
co-consecrators. A champion of
civil rights for African-Americans, he required an interview with the parents of prospective students for Richmond's Catholic schools, looking for signs of
racism.
Death and legacy Russell's resignation as bishop of Richmond was accepted by
Pope Paul VI on April 28, 1973. John Russell died on March 17, 1993, at St. Joseph's Home in Richmond at age 95. ==References==