The Most Reverend

George Biskup

DD
Archbishop of Indianapolis
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeIndianapolis
In officeJanuary 3, 1970 – March 20, 1979
PredecessorPaul Clarence Schulte
SuccessorEdward O'Meara
Orders
OrdinationMarch 19, 1937
by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
ConsecrationApril 24, 1957
by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Personal details
Born(1911-08-23)August 23, 1911
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
DiedOctober 17, 1979(1979-10-17) (aged 68)
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Previous post(s)Bishop of Des Moines
Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque
EducationLoras College
Pontifical Gregorian University
University of Iowa
MottoCordis Eius
(His Heart)

George Biskup (August 23, 1911 – October 17, 1979) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Indiana from 1970 to 1979.

Biskup previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in Iowa from 1965 to 1967 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Iowa from 1957 to 1965.

Biography

Early life

George Biskup was born on August 23, 1911, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Frank and Julia (née Kuda) Biskup.[1] He had an older brother, Leonard, and a younger sister, Helen. His father died when he was young and his mother had to go to work to support her young family.[2] Biskup was educated at St. Wenceslaus School through high school. He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1933.[1] He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Priesthood

Biskup was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on March 19, 1937.[3] Upon his return to Iowa, Biskup served as a curate at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque until 1939.[1] Biskup took up graduate studies in the fine arts at the University of Iowa while serving as the administrator of Holy Trinity Parish in Walford. Biskup became a faculty member in 1939 of Loras College, where he founded the art department and served as artist in residence.[4]

In 1948, Biskup was then called to Rome as an official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. During his years in Rome, he was made a monsignor. Again returning to Iowa, he was named pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Key West and chancellor of the archdiocese in 1951. Biskup was appointed vicar general in 1952, and served as a chaplain at the Presentation Sisters Convent (1952–1958).[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque

On March 9, 1957, Biskup was appointed Titular Bishop of Hemeria and Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on April 24, 1957, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani at St. Raphael's Cathedral. Archbishop Leo Binz and Bishop Loras Lane served as co-consecrators.[5] [2] In addition to his episcopal duties, Biskup served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity Parish in Dubuque from 1958 to 1965.[1] Biskup attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II; 1962-1965) in Rome. He was named the administrator of the archdiocese sede vacante after Archbishop Binz was transferred to the Archdiocese of St. Paul.

Bishop of Des Moines

Biskup was named by Pope Paul VI as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines on February 3, 1965. He was installed on March 19, 1965, in St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. In 1966 he purchased 55 acres (220,000 m2) from the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines to construct Dowling Catholic High School.[6] He also started to implement the changes in the church as a result of Vatican II.

Coadjutor Archbishop and Archbishop of Indianapolis

Biskup was appointed by Paul VI as Coadjutor Archbishop of Indianapolis and Titular Archbishop of Tamalluma on July 20, 1967. He was formally received into the archdiocese at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on October 10, 1967, and also served as pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis.[7]

Following the resignation of Archbishop Paul Schulte, Biskup automatically succeeded him as the third archbishop of Indianapolis on January 3, 1970. He supported the concept of Total Catholic Education and established lay boards of education to govern parochial schools.[7] It was also during Biskup's tenure that the archdiocese became nationally known for its holistic approach to Catholic education under then-superintendent of Catholic schools, the Rev. Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger.[7]

On March 20, 1979, Pope John Paul II accepted Biskup's resignation as archbishop of Indianapolis. George Biskup died at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis on October 17, 1979, at age 68. He is buried at Calvary Chapel Mausoleum in Indianapolis.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. 1 2 Gallagher, BVM, Mary Kevin (1987). Seed/Harvest: A History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa: Archdiocese of Dubuque Press. p. 162.
  3. ↑ "Archbishop George Joseph Biskup [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  4. ↑ Avella, Steven M. (2018). The Catholic Church in Southwest Iowa. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press. p. 244. ISBN 9780814644713.
  5. ↑ David M. Cheney. "Archbishop George Joseph Biskup". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  6. ↑ Avella 2018, p. 246.
  7. 1 2 3 Wyand, Mary Ann (2009-01-23). "A tradition of excellence: Bishops embrace education and faith formation". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
  8. ↑ "Bishops and Archbishops of the Archdiocese". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
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