Background
Joyce, Robert Francis was born on October 7, 1896 in Proctor, Vermont, United States. Son of Patrick J. and Helen (Connor) Joyce.
Joyce, Robert Francis was born on October 7, 1896 in Proctor, Vermont, United States. Son of Patrick J. and Helen (Connor) Joyce.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology summa cum laude, University Montreal, 1923. Doctor of Laws, St. Michael's College, 1956. Doctor of Humane Letters, Norwich University, 1957.
Doctor of Laws, Stonehill College, 1962.
He served as Bishop of Burlington from 1956 to 1971. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph John Rice on May 26, 1923. He then did pastoral work in the Diocese of Burlington until 1927, when he became principal of the Cathedral High School.
After resuming his pastoral ministry in 1932, he was a chaplain in the United States. Army from 1943 to 1946.
He later served as a pro-synodal judge and diocesan director of the Holy Name Society. On July 8, 1954, Joyce was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Burlington and Titular Bishop of Citium by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 28 from Bishop Edward Francis Ryan, with Bishops Matthew Francis Brady and Bernard Joseph Flanagan serving as co-consecrators.
After the death of Bishop Ryan, Joyce was named the sixth Bishop of Burlington on December 29, 1956, being installed as such on February 26, 1957. He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and served on the National Board of the American Cancer Society for 10 years.
He resigned as Bishop on December 14, 1971, after a 15-year-long tenure.
Joyce later died at age 93, and was buried at Resurrection Park in South Burlington.
Director Holy Name Society Diocese Burlington, 1947-1957, pro-Synodal judge, 1938-1957. Active Fulbright Scholarship Committee for Vermont, 1952-1958. Trustee Vermont Cancer Society, Vermont Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, Vermont Multiple Sclerosis Society, Champlain College Major Army of the United States, 1943-1946.
Member American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus (4 degree), Phi Beta Kappa.