Bishop John King Mussio

Born:
John King Mussio was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 13, 1902, the son of John and Blanche M. (King) Mussio. He had one brother Thomas J. Mussio. He was baptized and received his First Communion in Sacred Heart Church, Cincinnati, and attended Assumption Elementary School and St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati.

Education:
He attended St. Xavier High School Cincinnati, and was graduated in 1920 from Xavier University, Ohio, receiving a bachelor of arts degree, in 1924. He obtained a master of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame He also studied at the Conservatory of Music and the College of Music, both in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was on the faculty of Xavier University the in department of English from 1925 to 1930, and during that time studied law at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1930, John King Mussio entered the diocesan seminary at St. Gregory’s Seminary, Cincinnati, and two years later began his theological studies at Mount St.. Mary's Seminary, Norwood, Ohio.

Ordained:
On Aug. 15, 1935, he was ordained to the priesthood in Mount St. Mary's seminary by Archbishop John T. McNicholas of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was stationed for a year at St. Louis Church, Cincinnati, and for a short time he served as an instructor in a Cincinnati high school.

Assignments After Ordination to Priesthood:
Father Mussio continued his theological studies for one more year at Mount St. Mary's Seminary then was sent to the Angelicum College, Rome. He received the degree of doctor of Canon law in 1939. When he returned to Cincinnati in 1939, Father Mussio was made assistant chancellor of the archdiocese and in January, 1942, he was made chancellor. In June of the same year, he was raised to the rank of papal chamberlain with the rank of Very Reverend Monsignor. Together with his chancery duties, Msgr. Mussio also taught ecclesiastical law at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.

Named Bishop: 
On Oct. 21, 1944, a new diocese was formed with Steubenville being named as the See City. On March 15, 1945, it was announced that Pope Pius XII had appointed Msgr. Mussio as the first bishop of the newly established Steubenville Diocese. Bishop Mussio was consecrated a Bishop May 1, 1945, by Archbishop John T. McNicholas. The consecration ceremonies took place in St. Monica's Pro-Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio. Co-consecrators for the ceremony were Bishop George Rehring and Bishop Michael Read

Bishop Mussio arrived in Steubenville, May 23, 1945, and was installed in Holy Name Cathedral, Steubenville. He was a member of the Episcopal Commission of the Legion of Decency and was formerly episcopal moderator of the Catholic Broadcasters Association.

In January 1949, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Notre Dame University. He was appointed assistant at the Pontifical Throne June 8, 1960. 

He retired Oct. 11, 1977, and died April 15, 1978.

Episcopal Motto: Caritas Urget Nos