Louis Benedict Kucera
{{Short description|Catholic bishop (1888–1957)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Louis Benedict Kucera
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Bishop of Lincoln
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
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| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| church =
| archdiocese =
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese =
| see = Diocese of Lincoln
| elected =
| term = 1930-1957
| predecessor = Francis Beckman
| successor = James Vincent Casey
| opposed =
| other_post =
| ordination = June 8, 1915
| ordained_by = John Ireland
| consecration = October 28, 1931
| consecrated_by = Francis Beckman
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1888|08|24}}
| birth_place = Wheatland, Minnesota, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1957|05|09|1888|08|24}}
| death_place =
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| nationality =
| religion = Roman Catholic
| residence =
| parents = John Wenceslaus and Mary (née Skluzacek) Kucera
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| education = St. John's College
College of St. Thomas
St. Paul Seminary
| alma_mater =
| motto = Omnibus prodesse
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Louis Benedict Kucera.svg
| coat_of_arms_alt =
| honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend
}}
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.{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Georgina Pell|title=The American Catholic Who's Who|volume=VII|year=1947|publisher=Walter Romig|location=Grosse Pointe, Michigan}} He attended St. John's College before studying at the College of St. Thomas, both in St. Paul. 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.{{cite news|work=University of St. Thomas|title=Bishop Louis B. Kucera Papers|url=https://www.stthomas.edu/libraries/collections/special/collections/manuscript/kucera.html}} 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.{{cite news|work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|title=Bishop Louis Benedict Kucera|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkuceral.html}}{{Self-published source|date=March 2015}} 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. In 1925, Kucera was named pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin, Iowa.
= Bishop of Lincoln =
On June 30, 1930, Kucera was appointed the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on October 28, 1930, from Archbishop Francis Beckman, with Bishops Thomas Drumm and Henry Rohlman serving as co-consecrators. He was named an assistant at the pontifical throne and in 1955 a count of the apostolic palace.{{cite news|date=1957-05-11|work=The New York Times|title=Bishop Kucera, 68, Dies}}
Kucera died on May 9, 1957, at age 68.
References
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{{succession box |
title=Bishop of Lincoln |
before=Francis Beckman |
after=James Vincent Casey |
years=1930–1957}}
{{s-end}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln|state=collapsed}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque |state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kucera, Louis Benedict}}
Category:People from Rice County, Minnesota
Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
Category:University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni
Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Lincoln
Category:Catholics from Minnesota