Background
Fitzsimon, Laurence Julius was born on January 31, 1895 in San Antonio, Texas, United States. Son of John Thomas and Theodora (Okelmann) FitzSimon.
Fitzsimon, Laurence Julius was born on January 31, 1895 in San Antonio, Texas, United States. Son of John Thomas and Theodora (Okelmann) FitzSimon.
He attended Saint Anthony"s College in San Antonio from 1907 until 1911, when he was sent to further his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
He served as Bishop of Amarillo from 1941 until his death in 1958. He and his family moved to Castroville the following year. In 1916 he was forced to return to Texas due to poor health.
After recuperating, he served in the United States Navy during World War I. He later resumed his theological studies in 1919 at Saint Meinrad"s Seminary in Indiana.
FitzSimon was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1921. He then taught at Saint John"s Seminary in San Antonio for four years, when he became pastor of Runge.
He was later transferred to Kenedy and then to Seguin in 1932. He also served as chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio from 1932 to 1941.
On August 1, 1941, FitzSimon was appointed the third Bishop of Amarillo by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 22 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Mariano Simon Garriga and Sidney Matthew Metzger serving as co-consecrators.
He was later installed at Amarillo on November 5, 1941. During his 17-year-long tenure, the number of churches, priests, schools, and institutions in the diocese more than doubled. In 1951 he became the first American to receive the title of Chanoine d"Honneur from Cardinal Pierre-Marie Gerlier.
FitzSimon died at Saint Anthony"s Hospital in Amarillo, aged 63.
He is buried in Llano Cemetery.
Served in the United States Navy, 1917-1919. Member American Legion, Veterans Foreign Wars, North Sea Mine Force Association.