On January 2, 1960, Forst was appointed the second Bishop of Dodge City, Kansas, by Pope John XXIII.[3] He received his episcopalconsecration on the following March 24 from Bishop Charles Herman Helmsing, with Bishops Mark Kenny Carroll and Leo Christopher Byrne serving as co-consecrators.[3] Between 1962 and 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council, which he described as "the paramount event of all [his] episcopal years...[and] the best thing that happened to the church in the 20th century."[2] During his tenure, he established several new offices and ministries in the diocese, including Catholic Social Service, the Office of Religious Education, Family Life Office, Religious Education for the Handicapped, the Southwest Kansas Register diocesan newspaper, Office of Mexican American Affairs, and the Youth/Young Adults Office.[2] He was an opponent of denying federal aid to private schools, which he believed was "a smoke screen" designed "to get rid of these schools."[2]
After sixteen years as head of the Diocese of Dodge City, Forst retired due to poor health on October 16, 1976.[3] He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Kansas City in Kansas and Titular Bishop of Scala by Pope Paul VI on the same date.[3] He remained in this capacity for ten years, when he resigned both posts on December 23, 1986.[3] Forst later died at Olathe Medical Center, aged 96.[2] At the time of his death, he was the oldest Catholic bishop in the United States; Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety assumed that distinction upon Forst's death.[2]
References
^ abcdCurtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.