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]
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
^ abcdeCurtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ abGallagher, BVM, Mary Kevin (1987). Seed/Harvest: A History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa: Archdiocese of Dubuque Press. p. 162.