Bernard J. Ganter
Encyclopedia
Bernard Jacques Ganter was an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Tulsa
(1973-1977) and Bishop of Beaumont, TX
(1977-1993).
, Texas
, to Bernard and Marie (née Bozka) Ganter. He studied engineering
at Texas A&M University
for one year before transferring to St. Mary's Seminary in La Porte
to study for the priesthood
. He was ordained
by Bishop Wendelin Joseph Nold
on May 22, 1952.
He then attended the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
, from where he obtained a Doctor of Canon Law
in 1955. He was a curate
at Sacred Heart Church in Conroe
before serving as private secretary
to Bishop Nold (1955-1958). He was also head of the diocesan tribunal (1958-66), chancellor
of the diocese (1966-72), and diocesan consultor. He was named Papal Chamberlain
in May 1964, and elected to the presbyterate council the same year.
On December 13, 1972, Ganter was appointed the first Bishop
of the newly-erected Diocese of Tulsa
, Oklahoma
, by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on February 2, 1973 from Archbishop Luigi Raimondi
, with Bishops Nold and John Louis Morkovsky
serving as co-consecrators
. He quickly became a beloved figure among Catholics in Eastern Oklahoma
, and led a diocese that was culturally and economically diverse. After four years in Tulsa, Ganter returned to Texas and was named the third Bishop of Beaumont
on December 13, 1977.
During his tenure in Beaumont, he established five new parishes
, including the first parish in the United States for Vietnamese American
s. He started the permanent diaconate
and ordained 36 men between 1979 and 1992. He also established a Catholic Charities
office, diocesan financial board, retreat center, and biblical
school for adults. The Diocese of Beaumont lost territory with the creation of the Diocese of Tyler
in 1986, but received the rest of Chambers and Liberty Counties
in 1989.
Ganter died from a brain tumor
at age 65. He is buried in the Bishop's Garden next to St. Anthony Cathedral.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman 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 Tulsa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
(1973-1977) and Bishop of Beaumont, TX
Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties and portions of two others in Texas. The diocese was founded on September 29, 1966; the first bishop was Most Rev. Vincent Madeley Harris, D.D. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica serves as the cathedral church...
(1977-1993).
Biography
Bernard Ganter was born in GalvestonGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to Bernard and Marie (née Bozka) Ganter. He studied engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
for one year before transferring to St. Mary's Seminary in La Porte
La Porte, Texas
La Porte is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Bay Area of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 31,880...
to study for 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....
. He 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....
by Bishop Wendelin Joseph Nold
Wendelin Joseph Nold
Wendelin Joseph Nold was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Galveston-Houston from 1950 to 1975.-Biography:...
on May 22, 1952.
He then attended the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from where he obtained a Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
in 1955. He was 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 Sacred Heart Church in Conroe
Conroe, Texas
Conroe is a suburban city 40 miles north of Houston in the gulf coastal plains/piney woods region of southeast Texas.It is the seat of Montgomery County and falls within the metropolitan area.As of the 2000 U.S...
before serving as private secretary
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to Bishop Nold (1955-1958). He was also head of the diocesan tribunal (1958-66), 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 diocese (1966-72), and diocesan consultor. He was named Papal Chamberlain
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in May 1964, and elected to the presbyterate council the same year.
On December 13, 1972, Ganter was appointed the first Bishop
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the newly-erected Diocese of Tulsa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. 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 February 2, 1973 from Archbishop Luigi Raimondi
Luigi Raimondi
Luigi Raimondi was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints from 1973 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1973....
, with Bishops Nold and John Louis Morkovsky
John Louis Morkovsky
John Louis Morkovsky was an Czech American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Amarillo and Bishop of Galveston-Houston .-Early life and education:...
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...
. He quickly became a beloved figure among Catholics in Eastern Oklahoma
Eastern Oklahoma
See Also: Green CountryEastern Oklahoma is usually defined as east of Oklahoma City and east of Interstate 35 in Oklahoma. The region includes Tulsa.The region is usually divided into two main areas: Northeast Oklahoma, and Southeast Oklahoma....
, and led a diocese that was culturally and economically diverse. After four years in Tulsa, Ganter returned to Texas and was named the third Bishop of Beaumont
Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties and portions of two others in Texas. The diocese was founded on September 29, 1966; the first bishop was Most Rev. Vincent Madeley Harris, D.D. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica serves as the cathedral church...
on December 13, 1977.
During his tenure in Beaumont, he established five new parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
, including the first parish in the United States for Vietnamese American
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
s. He started the permanent diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and ordained 36 men between 1979 and 1992. He also established a Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
office, diocesan financial board, retreat center, and biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
school for adults. The Diocese of Beaumont lost territory with the creation of the Diocese of Tyler
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on December 12, 1986.The Diocese of Tyler was created December 12, 1986 and erected on February 24, 1987.It comprises 33 counties:* Anderson* Angelina* Bowie...
in 1986, but received the rest of Chambers and Liberty Counties
Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County is a county located in Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,643. Its county seat is Liberty.-Geography:According to the U.S...
in 1989.
Ganter died from a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
at age 65. He is buried in the Bishop's Garden next to St. Anthony Cathedral.