Daniel Kucera
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Daniel William Kucera, OSB, PhD (born May 7, 1923) is a bishop
of the Roman Catholic Church
and Archbishop
Emeritus
of Dubuque.
Kucera was educated at St. Procopious College (now known as Benedictine University
) in Lisle, Illinois
. He took the religious name of Daniel when he professed religious vows June 16, 1944 at St. Procopius Abbey in the Order of Saint Benedict
. On May 26, 1949 he was ordained a priest. Kucera earned a doctorate in education from The Catholic University of America
in 1954. His background in education has led Vatican officials — including the Pope — to ask his advice on educational matters. He served in various administrative positions at St. Procopius College until he was named the college's president. On July 8, 1964 he was elected Abbot
of St. Procopius Abbey and received his abbatial blessing on August 19, 1964. He served as abbot until June 1, 1971 when he resigned to became the college's president again.
On June 6, 1977, Pope
Paul VI named Kucera Titular Bishop
of Natchesium
and Auxiliary Bishop
of Joliet
. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop Romeo Roy Blanchette
of Joliet. Bishops Andrew Gregory Grutka
of Gary and Raymond James Vonesh, Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet, served as primary co-consecrators.
, in the state of Kansas
. He was formally installed in Sacred Heart Cathedral
on May 7, 1980 by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker of Kansas City in Kansas. During his three years as bishop of the diocese the Diocesan Office of Planning, the Bishop's Council for Catholic Education and the Office of Youth Ministries were established. The diocese hired a business manager, and the chancery and other administrative offices of the diocese were moved to a larger buildiing downtown. Marymount College
in Salina became a diocesan institution after the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Concordia decided they were no longer able to continue ownership. The college closed in 1989.
. One of the first decisions he made was to sell the ornate episcopal residence and move to a more modest house in Dubuque.
Archbishop Kucera set about reorganizing the archdiocese. This was accomplished by reorganizing or creating archdiocesan boards, and established the first Archbishop's Cabinet to coordinate the running of the archdiocese. The archdiocese was divided into three regions: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo with a bishop in each region. The number of deaneries were reduced from 16 to 14. Kucera appointed a woman religious chancellor, and two lay people were named to archdiocesan offices. He also had revised guidelines for the Sacrament
of Confirmation published in 1986. On November 30, 1986 Kucera issued a proclamation announcing the 150th anniversary of the archdiocese's founding. Various celebrations were held throughout the following year including a large scale liturgy at the Five Flags Center celebrated by Archbishop Pio Laghi, the Papal Pro-Nuncio to the United States. He also approved a controversial renovation of St. Raphael's Cathedral.
In 1994, he requested the appointment of a coadjutor
. Bishop Jerome Hanus
of Saint Cloud
was assigned as Coadjutor Archbishop of Dubuque. On October 16, 1995 Pope John Paul II accepted Archbishop Kucera's resignation, and he was named Archbishop Emeritus. Archbishop Kucera is currently retired and recently moved back to Dubuque after living in Aurora, Colorado
for a number of years.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
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...
and Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Dubuque.
Early Life & Ministry
Kucera was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 1923 and given the name William. His parents were Joseph F. and Lillian (Petrzelka) Kucera.Kucera was educated at St. Procopious College (now known as Benedictine University
Benedictine University
Benedictine University is a private Catholic university located in Lisle, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The institution has retained close relations with the Benedictine Order. Originally named St. Procopius College and located in the Pilsen community of Chicago, the school was founded in 1887 by...
) in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
. He took the religious name of Daniel when he professed religious vows June 16, 1944 at St. Procopius Abbey in the Order of Saint Benedict
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
. On May 26, 1949 he was ordained a priest. Kucera earned a doctorate in education from 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 1954. His background in education has led Vatican officials — including the Pope — to ask his advice on educational matters. He served in various administrative positions at St. Procopius College until he was named the college's president. On July 8, 1964 he was elected Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of St. Procopius Abbey and received his abbatial blessing on August 19, 1964. He served as abbot until June 1, 1971 when he resigned to became the college's president again.
On June 6, 1977, Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Paul VI named Kucera 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 Natchesium
Natchesium
Natchesium or Natchez is a Roman Catholic Diocese. As it is a titular see, it is not an active diocese. The diocese was founded on July 28, 1837 and originally was the Catholic diocese for the entire state of Mississippi. Even though the diocese was officially created in 1837, the first bishop of...
and 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 Joliet
Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the City of Joliet in Illinois and its surrounding counties: DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Kendall and Will. It is governed by a...
. He was ordained a bishop by Bishop Romeo Roy Blanchette
Romeo Roy Blanchette
Romeo Roy Blanchette was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Joliet from 1966 to 1979.-Biography:...
of Joliet. Bishops Andrew Gregory Grutka
Andrew Gregory Grutka
Andrew Gregory Grutka was a 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as first bishop of the Diocese of Gary in the state of Indiana from 1956-1984.-Biography:...
of Gary and Raymond James Vonesh, Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet, served as primary co-consecrators.
Bishop of Salina
On March 5, 1980 Pope John Paul II appointed Kucera as the eighth bishop of SalinaRoman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
, in the state of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. He was formally installed in Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral (Salina, Kansas)
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kansas, United States is the cathedral parish for the Catholic Diocese of Salina. It is the second cathedral for the diocese after Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Concordia, Kansas when the See was located there.-History:...
on May 7, 1980 by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker of Kansas City in Kansas. During his three years as bishop of the diocese the Diocesan Office of Planning, the Bishop's Council for Catholic Education and the Office of Youth Ministries were established. The diocese hired a business manager, and the chancery and other administrative offices of the diocese were moved to a larger buildiing downtown. Marymount College
Marymount College (Kansas)
Marymount College was a four-year liberal arts college located in Salina, Kansas. Originally opened in 1922 as a women's college, Marymount was the first Catholic liberal arts college to open in the state....
in Salina became a diocesan institution after the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
of Concordia decided they were no longer able to continue ownership. The college closed in 1989.
Archbishop of Dubuque
On December 20, 1983 Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Kucera as the tenth bishop and eighth archbishop of Dubuque. He was installed as Archbishop on February 23, 1984 at the Five Flags Civic Center in DubuqueDubuque, 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....
. One of the first decisions he made was to sell the ornate episcopal residence and move to a more modest house in Dubuque.
Archbishop Kucera set about reorganizing the archdiocese. This was accomplished by reorganizing or creating archdiocesan boards, and established the first Archbishop's Cabinet to coordinate the running of the archdiocese. The archdiocese was divided into three regions: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo with a bishop in each region. The number of deaneries were reduced from 16 to 14. Kucera appointed a woman religious chancellor, and two lay people were named to archdiocesan offices. He also had revised guidelines for the Sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
of Confirmation published in 1986. On November 30, 1986 Kucera issued a proclamation announcing the 150th anniversary of the archdiocese's founding. Various celebrations were held throughout the following year including a large scale liturgy at the Five Flags Center celebrated by Archbishop Pio Laghi, the Papal Pro-Nuncio to the United States. He also approved a controversial renovation of St. Raphael's Cathedral.
In 1994, he requested the appointment of a coadjutor
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...
. Bishop Jerome Hanus
Jerome Hanus
-References:...
of Saint Cloud
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud is a Roman Catholic diocese in Minnesota. It was founded on September 22, 1889, out of territory that had been evangelized by the missionary priest Father Francis Xavier Pierz...
was assigned as Coadjutor Archbishop of Dubuque. On October 16, 1995 Pope John Paul II accepted Archbishop Kucera's resignation, and he was named Archbishop Emeritus. Archbishop Kucera is currently retired and recently moved back to Dubuque after living in Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
for a number of years.