Living Tradition

Born in Germany on October 14, 1876, the infant Joseph Francis Rummel was destined for greatness. At the age of six his family moved to the United States and settled in New York City. It was there that a young Joseph Rummel started his elementary education at St. Boniface Parochial School, now the location of the United Nations buildings. He left St. Boniface and began his training in Rome and was ordained there in the Basilica of St. John Lateran on May 24, 1902. One year later, after obtaining his doctorate in theology, he returned to New York and served in several parishes for the next 25 years.

In 1928, Father Joseph Rummel was named bishop of Omaha, Nebraska, and served that diocese for seven years. On March 9, 1935, Joseph Francis Rummel was named the ninth archbishop of New Orleans, upon the death of Archbishop Shaw.

As the leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Rummel's years in New Orleans numbered 29. During those years he was active in directing many programs which benefited youth and the poor, He saw to it that CCD religious education programs were established in every parish in 1935. He led in organization of welfare programs under the Associated Catholic Charities.

From 1935 to 1960, the number of students in Catholic schools grew from fewer than 40,000 to more than 85,000. The number of church parishes increased from 135 to 180. And in 1945, he launched the Youth Progress Program to raise money for education which resulted in the building of schools. During that time some 70 new schools were opened.

In 1958, a new archdiocesan-wide campaign was begun which resulted in the opening of four new high schools in Jefferson Parish (County) in 1962. Archbishop Rummel was one of those schools and was named for him over his protests.

In late 1960, Archbishop Rummel's health began to fail. By then he had served as New Orleans' Catholic archbishop for 25 years and was the oldest active archbishop in the United States. On the occasion of his 60th anniversary as a priest in 1962, Archbishop Rummel announced that Pope John XXIII had appointed Archbishop John Patrick Cody as his coadjutor archbishop with full jurisdiction over the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Despite his age, poor health and almost total loss of sight, Archbishop Rummel maintained an active interest in the activities of the Church. He participated in the dedication of Archbishop Rummel High School in the fall of 1962 and he journeyed to Rome for the opening of the second Vatican Council. But, finally, on November 9, 1964, this strong, determined spiritual leader passed on to his reward, leaving a heritage of many good works, not the least significant of which is the school that bears his name. The spirit of Joseph Francis Rummel still lives in the faculty, student body, and alumni of Archbishop Rummel High School; and that spirit is characterized in the Archbishop's own motto, "Animam pro ovibus ponere" --- to give one's life for the sheep.