George Biskup
Encyclopedia
George Biskup was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Des Moines
, Iowa
(1965–1967) and Archbishop of Indianapolis
(1970–1979).
, Iowa
, to Frank and Julia (née Kuda) Biskup. He studied at Loras College
in Dubuque
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1933. He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
, where Biskup was ordained
to the priesthood
on March 19, 1937. Upon his return to Iowa, he served as a curate
at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque until 1939.
He was a member of the faculty at Loras College (1939–1948) before being called to Rome as an official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
. Again returning to Iowa, he was named pastor
of St. Joseph's Church in Key West
and chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
in 1951. He became vicar general
of the archdiocese in 1952, and served as a chaplain
at the Presentation Sisters Convent (1952–1958).
On March 9, 1957, Biskup was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Dubuque and Titular Bishop
of Hemeria by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following April 24 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Archbishop Leo Binz
and Bishop Loras Thomas Lane
serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Raphael's Cathedral. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque from 1958 to 1965. Biskup was named the fifth Bishop of Des Moines
on January 30, 1965. In 1966 he purchased 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) from the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines
to construct Dowling Catholic High School
.
Biskup was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop
of Indianapolis
, Indiana
, and Titular Archbishop of Tamalluma on July 20, 1967. He was formally received into the archdiocese at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
on October 10, 1967, and also served as pastor of Holy Cross Church in Indianapolis
. Following the resignation of Paul Clarence Schulte
, Biskup 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 school
s. 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 school
s, Rev. Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger
.
After nine years as archbishop, Biskup resigned on March 20, 1979. He died seven months later at St. Vincent Hospital
in Indianapolis, aged 68. He is buried at Calvary Chapel Mausoleum in Indianapolis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Des Moines
Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
The Diocese of Des Moines is the Roman Catholic diocese for the southwestern quarter of the state of Iowa.Dioecesis Desmoinensis is the Latin title of the diocese, and the Diocese of Des Moines is the corporate title of the diocese. The Cathedral parish for the Diocese is St. Ambrose's Cathedral....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
(1965–1967) and Archbishop of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
(1970–1979).
Biography
George Biskup was born in Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, to Frank and Julia (née Kuda) Biskup. He studied at Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1933. He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where Biskup was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on March 19, 1937. Upon his return to Iowa, he served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque until 1939.
He was a member of the faculty at Loras College (1939–1948) before being called to Rome as an official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
. Again returning to Iowa, he was named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Joseph's Church in Key West
Key West, Iowa
Key West is an unincorporated community in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, near the extreme southern end of the city of Dubuque. Parts of the community are now within the city of Dubuque, while others are unincorporated. Owing to the presence of U.S. Highways 151, 61, and 52, and the nearby...
and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
in 1951. He became vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the archdiocese in 1952, and served as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the Presentation Sisters Convent (1952–1958).
On March 9, 1957, Biskup was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Dubuque and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Hemeria by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following April 24 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Archbishop Leo Binz
Leo Binz
-External links:*...
and Bishop Loras Thomas Lane
Loras Thomas Lane
The Most Reverend Dr. Loras Thomas Lane , DD., was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rockford from 1956 until his death in 1968.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Raphael's Cathedral. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque from 1958 to 1965. Biskup was named the fifth Bishop of Des Moines
Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
The Diocese of Des Moines is the Roman Catholic diocese for the southwestern quarter of the state of Iowa.Dioecesis Desmoinensis is the Latin title of the diocese, and the Diocese of Des Moines is the corporate title of the diocese. The Cathedral parish for the Diocese is St. Ambrose's Cathedral....
on January 30, 1965. In 1966 he purchased 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) from the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
to construct Dowling Catholic High School
Dowling Catholic High School
Dowling Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines.-Background:...
.
Biskup was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and Titular Archbishop of Tamalluma on July 20, 1967. He was formally received into the archdiocese at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis served as the Proto-cathedral from 1871-1907. The Diocese of Vincennes was renamed the Diocese...
on October 10, 1967, and also served as pastor of Holy Cross Church in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Following the resignation of Paul Clarence Schulte
Paul Clarence Schulte
Paul Clarence Schulte was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Indianapolis from 1946 to 1970.-Biography:...
, Biskup succeeded him as the third Archbishop of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
on January 3, 1970. He supported the concept of Total Catholic Education and established lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
boards of education to govern parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
s. It was also during Biskup's tenure that the archdiocese became nationally known for its holistic approach to Catholic education under then-superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
s, Rev. Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger
Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger
Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger was the fourth Bishop of Evansville, Indiana and currently administers for the Diocese.-Early life:...
.
After nine years as archbishop, Biskup resigned on March 20, 1979. He died seven months later at St. Vincent Hospital
St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
St. Vincent Hospital is a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It is the flagship installation of St. Vincent Health which operates 20 facilities over 46 Indiana counties and is one of the largest ministries in the Catholic health care organization Ascension Health.-History:The Daughters of...
in Indianapolis, aged 68. He is buried at Calvary Chapel Mausoleum in Indianapolis.