John Louis Morkovsky
The Most Reverend John Louis Morkovsky | |
|---|---|
Diocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas from 1975 to 1984.
BiographyEarly lifeThe seventh of ten children, John Morkovsky was born on August 16, 1909, in Praha, Texas, to Alois and Marie (née Raska) Morkovsky.[1] Alois Morkovsky immigrated to the United States from Moravia, while Marie Raska was the daughter of Moravian immigrants.[2] John Morkovsky was baptized by Reverend. Louis P. Netardus at his parents' home.[1] Morkovsky entered St. John's Seminary in College of the Propaganda and the Pontifical Gregorian University.[1]
PriesthoodWhile in Rome, Morkovsky was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Antonio by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 5, 1933.[3] He earned his doctorate in theology in Rome in 1936.[2]
On his return to Texas in 1936, Morkovsky was assigned as a canon law, Latin and philosophy at St. John's Seminary.[1] He briefly served as pastor of St. Francis de Paula Parish and superintendent of Catholic schools in San Antonio.[1]
In 1941, Morkovsky was sent to Washington, D.C. to study at the Catholic University of America, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in education.[2] He returned to Texas in 1943 to resume his position as superintendent of Catholic Schools in San Antonio.[2] During that time, he also held the following posts:
Morkovsky also organized the Federation of Catholic Parents' and Teachers' Clubs in San Antonio.[1] Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of AmarilloOn December 22, 1955, Morkovsky was appointed consecration on February 22, 1956, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Mariano Garriga and Sidney Metzger serving as co-consecrators.[3] In addition to his duties as auxiliary bishop, he also served as chancellor and vicar general of the diocese.[1] Pius XII named Morkovsky the fourth bishop of Amarillo on August 18, 1958.[3]
Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Galveston-HoustonOn April 16, 1963, Morkovsky was appointed Houston Medical Center in 1968.[1] From 1970 to 1972, Morkovsky was the first Catholic bishop to preside over the Texas Conference of Churches.[1]
An April 22, 1975, Morkovsky automatically succeeded Nold as the sixth bishop of Galveston-Houston . Retirement and legacyOn August 21, 1984, Pope John Paul II accepted Morkovsky's resignation as bishop of Galveston-Houston. On March 24, 1990, John Morkovsky died at age 80 from a stroke in Tacoma, Washington, where he was visiting relatives.[2] He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Houston.[2] References
External links
|