Michael Ryan Patrick Dempsey

This article is about an American Catholic bishop. For other people with a similar name, see Michael Dempsey (disambiguation).

Michael Ryan Patrick Dempsey (September 10, 1918 – January 8, 1974) was an American Catholic prelate who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1968 to 1974.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Michael Dempsey
Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
Church	Catholic Church
See	Titular See of Truentum
In office	June 13, 1968 - January 8, 1974
Other post(s)	President, National Catholic Crusade Against Poverty
Orders
Ordination	May 1, 1943 by Samuel Stritch
Consecration	June 13, 1968 by John Cody
Personal details
Born	September 10, 1918 Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died	January 8, 1974(1974-01-08) (aged 55) Chicago
Motto	Deus meus adjutor meus (My God is my helper)

Biography

Early life and ordination

Michael Dempsey was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 10, 1918.^[1] He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 1, 1943, by Archbishop Samuel Stritch ^[1]Dempsey would spend 30 years serving parishes in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. During the 1960's, Dempsey was serving as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.^[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago

On June 13, 1968 Pope Paul VI appointed Dempsey as the titular bishop of Truentum and as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago. He was consecrated by Cardinal John Cody on June 13, 1968 in Sacred Heart Chapel at the Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops Ernest John Primeau and Cletus F. O'Donnell.^[1]

Dempsey was a founder and the first president in 1969 of the National Catholic Crusade Against Poverty, a group dedicated to promoting self-help among the poor and a willingness to fight for social justice. One of Dempsey's favorite sayings was "Poverty just doesn’t have to be, and the Lord gave us the vision to overcome it in our time.”^[2][3]In 1970, Dempsey announced a $50 million fundraising drive for the organization.^[4]

Death

Dempsey died in Chicago from a heart attack on January 8, 1974.^[1][5][2]The National Catholic Crusade continues as of 2025 as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, run by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.^[6]