Andrew G. Grutka Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency, The Most Reverend
Andrew Gregory Grutka
Honorific-Suffix:D.D.
See:Diocese of Gary
Term:February 25, 1957 to
July 9, 1984
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:Norbert Felix Gaughan
Ordination:December 5, 1933
Ordained By:Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
Consecration:February 25, 1957
Consecrated By:Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Birth Date:November 17, 1908
Birth Place:Joliet, Illinois, US
Death Date:November 11, 1993 (aged 84)
Death Place:Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Buried:Cathedral of the Holy Angels
Religion:Catholic Church
Motto:Ubi Caritas Ibi Deus (Where there is love, there is God)
Education:Pontifical North American College
Bishop of Gary
Andrew Gregory Grutka
Dipstyle:The Most Reverend
Offstyle:Your Excellency
Relstyle:Bishop
Deathstyle:not applicable

Andrew Gregory Grutka (November 17, 1908 – November 11, 1993) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as first bishop of the Diocese of Gary in Indiana from 1956 to 1984.

Biography

Early life

Andrew Grutka was born on November 17, 1908, in Joliet, Illinois, the son of Slovak immigrants from Spišská Stará Ves. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Grutka was ordained a priest on December 5, 1933, by Cardinal Francesco Selvaggiani for the Diocese of Fort Wayne.[1] Grutka was serving as the pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Gary, Indiana, on his final pastoral assignment.[2]

Bishop of Gary

On December 29, 1956, Grutka was named bishop of the newly created Diocese of Gary by Pope Pius XII. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani Bishops John Cody and Leo Pursley were the principal co-consecrators. From 1962 to 1965, Grutka attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome and was responsible for implementing the council's reforms in the diocese. In 1959, Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana, was named for his patron, Andrew the Apostle.

Retirement and legacy

Pope John Paul II accepted Grutka's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Gary on July 9, 1984.[3] After his resignation, Grutka remained active in the diocese, ministering to parishioners.

Andrew Grutka died at his home in Valparaiso, Indiana, on November 11, 1993, at age 85. He was entombed in the east transept of Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biskup Andrej Grutka v spomienkach kardinála Jozefa Tomka - Vatican News . November 26, 2018 .
  2. Web site: Brief History of the Diocese . www.dcgary.org . 2010-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100529075423/http://www.dcgary.org/bishop-history.htm . May 29, 2010 . dead .
  3. Web site: Bishop Andrew Gregory Grutka . www.catholic-hierarchy.org . 2010-05-22 .