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The Most Reverend John J. Myers, J.C.D., D.D.
Fifth Archbishop of Newark
The Most Reverend John J. Myers, fifth Archbishop of Newark, was born in Ottawa, IL on July 26, 1941 to Melvin Wayne (Jack) and the late Margaret Myers. He is the eldest of seven children.
The Archbishop’s family traces its roots to Ireland, England and France; relatives settled in northern Illinois in the late 1800s. Earlier ancestors of Mrs. Myers (Spaulding was the family name) served in the Revolutionary War.
The Myers family farmed near Earlville, IL, a town of 1,400 located 20 miles north of Ottawa. The Myers children all worked with their father and shared the family chores; prayer was very much a part of their everyday routine. Young John Myers was an altar server in his parish, St. Theresa, from an early age.
John Myers attended the Earlville schools and St. Bede Academy. While completing studies at Loras College in Dubuque, IA (1959-1963), Bishop John B. Franz offered him the opportunity to prepare for the priesthood in Rome. During a visit home in 1966, he was ordained a subdeacon by Bishop Franz in his private chapel in the Bishop’s residence. Father Myers was ordained a priest for service to the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop Francis Reh on Dec. 17, 1966 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He then received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the North American College, Gregorian University, Rome in 1967, and a Doctorate in Canon Law from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1977.
Father Myers first assignment was as assistant pastor at Holy Family Parish, Peoria in 1967. He then served in the Department of International Affairs of the United States Catholic Conference from 1970 to 1971. His next assignment was as associate pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Champaign, IL from 1971 until 1974.
Among the administrative positions Father Myers has held in the Diocese of Peoria are Administrator of St. Mary Cathedral (1977-1978 and 1984); diocesan Vice Chancellor (1977-1978); Vocations Director (1977-1987); diocesan Chancellor (1978-1987); and diocesan Vicar General (1982-1990). He has also served as a member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (1968-1970 and 1984-1990) and Board of Consultors (1978-1990).
He has served since 1966 as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.
On Sept. 3, 1987, Bishop Myers was installed as Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, and acceded to the See of Peoria on Jan. 23, 1990.
As a member of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Myers has served on the Canonical Affairs Committee (1988-1999), Committee on Shrines and Pilgrimages (1990-), and Committee on Vocations (1995-1998).
Currently, he serves on the Board of Governors of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Boston, MA; the Seminary Board, Kenrick-Glennon, of the Archdiocese of St. Louis; the Seminar Committee and Board of Trustees of Catholic University of America; and as vice president of the Illinois Catholic Health Association.
Bishop Myers has participated extensively in numerous Canon Law Projects, and has produced scholarly writings on a range of topics including diocesan finance, ecclesial ministries, the rights of unborn children, and the family.
On July 24, 2001, His Holiness Pope John Paul II called John J. Myers to serve as the fifth Archbishop of Newark, NJ.
