Joseph Abel Francis
Joseph Abel Francis was an American Catholic bishop. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark from 1976 to 1995.Biography
Born on September 30, 1923, in Lafayette, Louisiana, Joseph Francis was brother of Norman Francis. He was ordained a priest for the Society of the Divine Word on October 7, 1950.
On May 3, 1976, Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Valliposita and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark. He was consecrated by Archbishop Peter Gerety on June 25, 1976. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Boland and Auxiliary Bishop Harold Perry of New Orleans. Francis continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on June 30, 1995. He died at the age of 73 on September 1, 1997.
