Walter P. Kellenberg

Walter Philip Kellenberg (June 3, 1901 – January 11, 1986) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York, from 1957 to 1976.

Walter Kellenbergy received his early education at the parochial school of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in the Bronx.

[2][4] After his 1928 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Kellenberg as curate at St. Mary's Parish in the Rosebank neighborhood of Staten Island, New York.

Within a year, Kellenberg became a curate at St. Patrick's Cathedral Parish, and was named assistant chancellor and secretary of the archdiocesan Commission for Real Estate and Insurance in 1939.

The Vatican elevated Kellenberg to the rank of domestic prelate in 1948 and the archdiocese named him moderator of the coordinating committee of the Catholic Lay Organization in 1951.

He received his episcopal consecration on October 5, 1953 at St. Patrick's Cathedral from Cardinal James McIntyre, with Bishops William Scully and Joseph Flannelly serving as co-consecrators.

[2] Kellenberg remained in Ogdensburg for three years, until Pius XII appointed him as the first bishop of Rockville Centre on April 16, 1957.