Henry Gabriels
Henry Gabriels was a Belgian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Ogdensburg, New York from 1892 until his death in 1921.Biography
Henry Gabriels was born at Wannegem-Lede, East Flanders. He made his classical studies in St. Mary's College of the neighboring city of Oudenaarde, his philosophy course at the St. Joseph Minor Seminary of Sint-Niklaas, and his theological curriculum for two years in St. Nicholas seminary in Ghent. After entering the University of Louvain, he was ordained to the priesthood on 21 September 1861. He received the degree of Licentiate in Theology from the Louvain in 1864, in the same class of four with John Lancaster Spalding, the first Bishop of Peoria, Illinois.
It was at this time that Bishop John McCloskey, on behalf of the Province of New York City, was asking Bishop Louis-Joseph Delebecque of Ghent for some priests to conduct St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy. The bishop proposed four priests, including Gabriels. Reaching the United States in October 1864, he served as professor of dogma for seven years, and to this church history was added in 1870. From 1871 to 1892, he was President of St. Joseph's. He was also named one of the four secretaries of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884.
On 20 December 1891, Gabriels was appointed the second Bishop of Ogdensburg by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on 5 May 1892 from Archbishop Michael Corrigan, with Bishops Francis McNeirny and Patrick Anthony Ludden serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Albany. He was installed at the Cathedral of Ogdensburg by Bishop Bernard John McQuaid on the following 11 May. Bishop Gabriels wrote the "Diocese of Ogdensburg" article for the Catholic Encyclopedia. He was an Officer of the Order of Leopold.
During his twenty-nine years as bishop, he established several churches and schools. He died at age 82.
