John Baptist Pitaval

Pitaval was born on February 10, 1858, in Saint-Genis-Terrenoir to Jean Claude and Mariette (née Pugnet) Pitaval.[1][2] He made his preliminary studies for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Lyon, where he was ordained a subdeacon.[3]

Pitaval accepted an invitation from Bishop Joseph Projectus Machebeuf to join the Diocese of Denver, arriving in the United States in June 1881.[3] He completed his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was ordained a deacon by Archbishop James Gibbons.[3]

Pitaval was ordained a priest on December 24, 1881, by Bishop Machebeuf at the chapel of St. Mary's Academy in Denver.[4] Along with Robert Servant, he was one of the first two Catholic priests ordained in Colorado.[5]

Pitaval engaged in missionary work for the next 21 years. He first served in the San Luis Valley, traveling the valley on horseback and supporting himself by selling livestock.[5] In 1890, he was transferred to St. Paul's Church in Aspen, where he built a combination church and school building.[5] He was appointed to St. Columba Church at Durango in March 1902, remaining there only for a few months.[3]

On May 14, 1902, Pitaval was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and titular bishop of Sora by Pope Leo XIII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 25 from Archbishop Peter Bourgade, with Bishops Nicholas Chrysostom Matz and Henry Regis Granjon serving as co-consecrators.[4]

Pitaval served as an auxiliary bishop for seven years and, following the death of Archbishop Bourgade, he was appointed by Pope Pius X to succeed him as Archbishop of Santa Fe on February 1, 1909.[4] His appointment was praised by Governor George Curry, who sent a message of thanks to Rome.[6]

At the beginning of Pitaval's tenure in 1909, the archdiocese contained 127,000 Catholics, 65 priests, 45 parishes, 340 missions, 12 parochial schools, and three hospitals.[7] Following his retirement nine years later, there were over 140,000 Catholics, 80 priests, 46 parishes, 356 missions, 26 parochial schools, and five hospitals.[8] Among the institutions he founded were St. Anthony's Orphanage at Albuquerque and St. Mary's Hospital at Gallup.[5] He also erected a bronze statue of Jean-Baptiste Lamy, Santa Fe's first archbishop, outside the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi.[5]

Pitaval resigned as Archbishop of Santa Fe on July 29, 1918, citing his poor health and desire for a new generation of leadership.[9] He was given the honorary title of titular archbishop of Amida by Pope Benedict XV.[4] He retired to Colorado, residing at St. Anthony Hospital and briefly serving as a chaplain there.[5]

Pitaval died from complications with Bright's disease, diabetes, and heart disease at St. Anthony Hospital on May 23, 1928, at age 70.[5] He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.