Louis Benedict Kucera

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Louis Benedict Kucera
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; Louis Benedict Kucera
Bishop of Lincoln
See	Diocese of Lincoln
In office	1930-1957
Predecessor	Francis Beckman
Successor	James Vincent Casey
Orders
Ordination	June 8, 1915; by John Ireland
Consecration	October 28, 1931; by Francis Beckman
Personal details
Born	August 24, 1888; Wheatland, Minnesota, US
Died	May 9, 1957 (aged 68)
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	John Wenceslaus and Mary (née Skluzacek) Kucera
Education	St. John's College; College of St. Thomas; St. Paul Seminary
Motto	Omnibus prodesse
Coat of arms

Louis Benedict Kucera (August 24, 1888 – May 9, 1957) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln in Nebraska from 1930 until his death.

Biography

Early life

Louis Kucera was born in Wheatland, Minnesota, to John Wenceslaus and Mary (née Skluzacek) Kucera, who were Bohemian immigrants.^[1] He attended St. John's College before studying at the College of St. Thomas, both in St. Paul.^[1] After his graduation in 1909, he was offered admission to the West Point Military Academy. However, Kucera declined, choosing instead to study for the priesthood.^[2] He then entered St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul.

Priesthood

Kucera was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on June 8, 1915, by Archbishop John Ireland.^[3] He then served as a curate at St. Patrick's Parish in Tama, Iowa, until 1916, when he became professor of Latin and prefect of discipline at Columbia College in Dubuque.^[1] In 1925, Kucera was named pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin, Iowa.^[2]

Bishop of Lincoln

On June 30, 1930, Kucera was appointed the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln by Pope Pius XI.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on October 28, 1930, from Archbishop Francis Beckman, with Bishops Thomas Drumm and Henry Rohlman serving as co-consecrators.^[3] He was named an assistant at the pontifical throne and in 1955 a count of the apostolic palace.^[4]

Kucera died on May 9, 1957, at age 68.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1947). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. VII. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop Louis B. Kucera Papers". University of St. Thomas.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Bishop Louis Benedict Kucera". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.^{[self-published source]}
^ "Bishop Kucera, 68, Dies". The New York Times. 1957-05-11.