Frank Henry Greteman
Encyclopedia
Frank Henry Greteman was an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
.
, Iowa
, to Bernard and Mary (née Meissner) Greteman. He graduated from Loras College
in 1929 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree, and continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology
in 1933. He was ordained
a priest
on December 8, 1932, and then served as a curate
at St. Augustine Church in Spokane, Washington
until 1935.
He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law
from The Catholic University of America
in 1937. Returning to Iowa, he was pastor
of Assumption Church in Merrill
(1937–1941), St. Michael Church in Sioux City
(1941–1950), SS. Peter & Paul Church in Carroll
(1950–1964), and Holy Spirit Church in Carroll (1964–65). He was named a Domestic Prelate
in 1953, and vicar general
of the Sioux City Diocese in 1965.
On April 14, 1965, Greteman was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Sioux City and Titular Bishop
of Vissalsa by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following May 26 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi
, with Archbishop James Joseph Byrne and Bishop Joseph Maximilian Mueller
serving as co-consecrators
. Following the resignation of Bishop Mueller, he was named the fourth Bishop of Sioux City
on October 15, 1970. The main focus of his episcopate was Catholic education. He ordained the present Archbishop of Cincinnati, Dennis Marion Schnurr
, to the presbyterate.
Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Greteman submitted his letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II
in December 1982. His resignation was accepted on August 17, 1983, and Lawrence Donald Soens
was named as his successor. He died less than three years later, aged 79.
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...
.
Biography
Frank Greteman was born in WilleyWilley, Iowa
Willey is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The population was 103 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Willey is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, 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 Bernard and Mary (née Meissner) Greteman. He graduated from 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 1929 with 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, and continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
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...
, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
in 1933. 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....
a priest
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 December 8, 1932, and then 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. Augustine Church in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
until 1935.
He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law is the title of an advanced graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law...
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 1937. Returning to Iowa, he was 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 Assumption Church in Merrill
Merrill, Iowa
Merrill is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States, along the Floyd River. The population was 754 at the 2000 census.- History :Merrill is named for the seventh Governor of Iowa Samuel Merrill. The community was officially recognized on February 27, 1872. and became a incorporated city on...
(1937–1941), St. Michael Church in Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
(1941–1950), SS. Peter & Paul Church in Carroll
Carroll, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,103 in the city, with a population density of . There were 4,698 housing units, of which 4,357 were occupied....
(1950–1964), and Holy Spirit Church in Carroll (1964–65). He was named a Domestic Prelate
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 1953, and 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 Sioux City Diocese in 1965.
On April 14, 1965, Greteman 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 Sioux City 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 Vissalsa 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 the following May 26 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi
Egidio Vagnozzi
Edigio Vagnozzi was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as the second president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See from 1968 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1967.-Biography:Egidio Vagnozzi was born in Rome to Francesco and Pasqua ...
, with Archbishop James Joseph Byrne and Bishop Joseph Maximilian Mueller
Joseph Maximilian Mueller
Joseph Maximilian Mueller was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sioux City from 1948 to 1970.-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...
. Following the resignation of Bishop Mueller, he was named the fourth Bishop of Sioux City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City is the Roman Catholic diocese for the northwestern quarter of the state of Iowa, US The diocese comprises 24 counties in northwestern Iowa, and it covers an area of ....
on October 15, 1970. The main focus of his episcopate was Catholic education. He ordained the present Archbishop of Cincinnati, Dennis Marion Schnurr
Dennis Marion Schnurr
Dennis Marion Schnurr is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Cincinnati, having previously served as Bishop of Duluth from 2001 to 2008 and as Coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati from 2008 to 2009.-Early life and ministry:Dennis Schnurr was born in...
, to the presbyterate.
Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Greteman submitted his letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in December 1982. His resignation was accepted on August 17, 1983, and Lawrence Donald Soens
Lawrence Donald Soens
Lawrence Donald Soens is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sioux City in the state of Iowa from 1983 to 1998.-Early life & Ministry:...
was named as his successor. He died less than three years later, aged 79.