George Biskup

George Joseph Biskup was born 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, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1933.[1] He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where Biskup was ordained to the priesthood on March 19, 1937.

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. He was a member of the faculty at Loras College (1939–1948) where he founded the art department and served as artist in residence.[3] Biskup was then called to Rome as an official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. During his years in Rome he was made a Monsignor. Again returning to Iowa, he was named pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Key West and chancellor of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1951. He became vicar general of the archdiocese in 1952, and served as a chaplain at the Presentation Sisters Convent (1952–1958).[1]

On March 9, 1957, Biskup was appointed Titular Bishop of Hemeria and Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 24 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani at St. Raphael's Cathedral. Archbishop Leo Binz of Dubuque and Bishop Loras Lane of Rockford served as co-consecrators.[4] He was consecrated in the same liturgy as James Casey, another priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, who was to be the Bishop of Lincoln.[2] In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque from 1958 to 1965.[1] Biskup attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II; 1962-1965). He was named the administrator of the archdiocese sede vacante after Archbishop Binz was transferred to the Archdiocese of St. Paul.

Biskup was named the fifth Bishop of Des Moines on February 3, 1965. He was installed on the following March 19 in St. Ambrose Cathedral. 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.[5] He also started to implement the changes in the Church as a result of Vatican II.

Biskup was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Indianapolis, Indiana, 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 Church in Indianapolis.[6] Following the resignation of Archbishop Paul Schulte, Biskup 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.[6] 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.[6]

After nine years as archbishop, Biskup resigned on March 20, 1979. He died seven months later at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, aged 68.[7] He is buried at Calvary Chapel Mausoleum in Indianapolis.[7]