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John Louis Morkovsky
John Ludvik Morkovsky (August 16, 1909 – March 24, 1990) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas from 1958 to 1963 and as bishop of the 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 San Antonio In 1924. He was sent in 1930 to study in Rome at the 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 curate at St. Michael's parish in Weimar, Texas,.[1] He was transferred in 1939 to St. Anne's Parish in San Antonio. In 1940, Morkovsky was appointed as professor of 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 auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo and titular bishop of Hieron by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal 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 coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and titular bishop of Tigava by Pope John XXIII.[3] He became apostolic administrator of the diocese under Bishop Wendelin Nold, who suffered from near total blindness.[4] He also attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. In 1964 he founded the diocesan newspaper The Texas Catholic Herald and hosted the visit of Cardinal Josef Beran.[2] Morkovsky established the first diocesan mission in Guatemala City in 1966, and the Hospital Chaplains Corps at 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 .[3] During his tenure, he established African American and Mexican American ministries and gave special attention to low-income parishioners and Houston's large Vietnamese community.[2] The Catholic Church in Texas continued to experience tremendous growth which helped lead to further divisions of the diocese, including the Diocese of Beaumont (1966), the Diocese of Victoria (1982), and the Diocese of Tyler (1987).[4] Retirement and legacyOn August 21, 1984, Pope John Paul II accepted Morkovsky's resignation as bishop of Galveston-Houston.[3] He continued to live in his home on the grounds of St. Mary's Seminary in Houston.[2] 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
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