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.


Andrew Gregory Grutka

D.D.
Bishop Emeritus of Gary
SeeDiocese of Gary
In officeFebruary 25, 1957 to
July 9, 1984
PredecessorPosition established
SuccessorNorbert Felix Gaughan
Orders
OrdinationDecember 5, 1933
by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
ConsecrationFebruary 25, 1957
by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Personal details
BornNovember 17, 1908
DiedNovember 11, 1993 (aged 84)
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
BuriedCathedral of the Holy Angels
DenominationCatholic Church
EducationPontifical North American College
MottoUbi Caritas Ibi Deus (Where there is love, there is God)
Coat of arms
Styles of
Andrew Gregory Grutka
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Biography

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Early life

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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

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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

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Biskup Andrej Grutka v spomienkach kardinála Jozefa Tomka - Vatican News". November 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Brief History of the Diocese". www.dcgary.org. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  3. ^ "Bishop Andrew Gregory Grutka". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved May 22, 2010.[self-published source]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
None
Bishop of Gary
1957–1984
Succeeded by