Welcome to Our Lady of Angels

About Bishop Pilla – Bishop Emeritus

The Most Rev. Anthony Michael Pilla, bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, died on Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, 2021.

Bishop Anthony M. Pilla was installed the 9th Bishop of Cleveland on January 6, 1981. He retired on April 4, 2006.

Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, was named the ninth bishop of Cleveland by Pope John Paul II on Nov. 18, 1980 and he was installed on Jan., 6, 1981. He was consecrated as a bishop on Aug. 1, 1979 and served as vicar of the Eastern Region of the Diocese of Cleveland from Aug. 24, 1979 to July 29, 1980, when he was named apostolic administrator of the eight-county diocese.

A Cleveland native, Bishop Pilla was born on Nov. 12, 1932. He was educated in Cleveland and attended Cathedral Latin High School. Bishop Pilla graduated in 1951 from St. Gregory Seminary High School in Cincinnati and attended St. Gregory attended St. Gregory Seminary College, Cincinnati, before graduating from Borromeo College in Wickliffe in 1955. In 1959, he graduated from Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop Floyd L. Begin on May 23, 1959 and was assigned as associate pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish, Middleburg Heights, on June 10, 1959. Bishop Pilla served as a professor at Borromeo Seminary beginning on June 21, 1960. He was named rector-president of Borromeo Seminary on Nov. 4, 1972 and was appointed secretary for services to clergy and religious personnel for the diocese on July 1, 1975.

Bishop Pilla served on the Administrative Committee of Bishops, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1981-84; was chairman of the bishops of Region VI (Ohio and Michigan) 1981-82; was a member of the Board and Finance Committee, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in 1983; served on the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in 1985; and was chairman, National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference Ad Hoc Committee on Follow-up for Pastoral on Economy in 1986. He also served as treasurer, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1990-1992 and was elected vice president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the term 1992-1995. Bishop Pilla was elected president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the term Nov. 14, 1995 to November 1998. He also was a member, Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.

Bishop Pilla retired on May 15, 2006.

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Manete in Dilectione Mea, Live On In My Love

Our Lady of Angels Parish was established over 90 years ago by Franciscan priests in connection with a seminary for the training of Friars. Our Lady of Angels parish has been a landmark in Cleveland’s  Westpark neighborhood and continues to thrive, attract new members, and be called home for many current and former parishioners. In the 1980’s, the Franciscans left the parish, but their influence remains. Since that time, the Diocese of Cleveland has staffed the parish with three pastors: Fr. John Cregan, Fr. Jerome Duke, and currently Fr. Russell Lowe. 

God Bless,

Fr. Russell P. Lowe

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